The electric vehicle revolution isn’t coming—it’s already here. Across North Carolina and the U.S., more and more families, businesses, and even public fleets are discovering the incredible benefits of going electric. It’s a shift that promises cleaner air, a healthier environment, and exciting new economic opportunities right in our communities.
For years, CleanAIRE NC has championed this transition, recognizing that electric vehicles (EVs) are a powerful tool in our fight against climate change and harmful air pollution. Not only do they produce zero tailpipe emissions, directly improving the air we breathe and cutting carbon, but they also offer tangible economic upsides, from lower fuel costs for drivers to new manufacturing jobs in our state.
However, the speed of this revolution depends heavily on one critical factor: infrastructure. To truly unlock the full potential of EVs for everyone, we need to greatly expand the availability of charging stations, making it easy and convenient for any driver to confidently hit the road. That’s where a groundbreaking federal initiative, the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, comes in.
Or rather, was supposed to come in.
It is profoundly disappointing that such a vital program has become a political target. The Trump administration has now “indefinitely” suspended the NEVI program, slamming the brakes on transportation progress while leaving communities to pay the price.
CleanAIRE NC is challenging this unlawful action to ensure our communities get the critical clean transportation infrastructure they deserve. Last month we joined a broad coalition of organizations and U.s. states to sue the Trump administration and restore NEVI program funding.
NEVI, established with bipartisan support through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is a transformative $5 billion initiative designed to build a robust, accessible, and interconnected network of EV charging stations across the United States. Its core goal is to ensure that a charging station is available every 50 miles along major highway corridors, providing critical “range confidence” for EV drivers nationwide.
North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states, and with that growth comes more vehicles and more pollution. The transportation sector is the leading cause of carbon emissions in the state and nation, directly contributing to climate change and worsening air quality. Pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) enter our lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating serious health risks such as heart disease, cancer, asthma, and even COVID-19. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are especially vulnerable.
This is where electric vehicles offer a powerful solution. They produce zero tailpipe emissions, meaning they directly reduce exposure to these dangerous pollutants. NEVI was designed to accelerate this shift, ensuring that even communities near busy roads and freight corridors—often disproportionately communities of color and low-wealth areas—can finally breathe cleaner air. Freezing this program literally keeps dirty air in our most vulnerable neighborhoods.
The NEVI program isn’t just about environmental benefits; it’s a significant economic driver. It promises to create thousands of good-paying jobs across the country, from manufacturing EV charging components to the hands-on work of installation and maintenance. For North Carolina, this means substantial investment in our communities, both urban and rural.
For our rural communities, in particular, EV charging infrastructure offers more than just convenience. It can create destinations, encouraging EV drivers to confidently travel through and stop in towns they might otherwise bypass. When visitors stop, they spend money at local businesses, boosting tourism, supporting small enterprises, and revitalizing local economies.
NEVI was designed to ensure these investments reach all corners of the state, not just wealthy urban centers. The freeze means that rural and historically underserved communities, often overlooked by private investment, will continue to be left behind, widening existing infrastructure disparities.
One of the biggest hurdles preventing more North Carolinians from embracing electric vehicles is “range anxiety” – the fear of not finding a charging station when needed. A reliable, standardized network of chargers is absolutely essential to overcome this psychological barrier and make EVs a practical choice for everyone.
The NEVI program was specifically designed to solve this by creating that national, interconnected network. Without it, increasing EV adoption rates—which are crucial for lowering vehicle purchase prices and creating a more accessible used EV market—becomes significantly more difficult.
CleanAIRE NC has been actively pursuing innovative programs, from connecting businesses with EV fleet conversions to establishing EV ride-sharing initiatives, including one in Charlotte where electric city vehicles would be available for community use at night. But here’s the stark truth: none of these solutions work without adequate charging infrastructure to support them.
The Trump Administration’s freeze of NEVI program funding is a harmful, arbitrary decision that directly undermines North Carolina’s efforts to improve public health, fight climate change, and bring equitable economic development to communities across our state.
That’s why we’re taking a stand. This is a fight for cleaner air, a stronger economy, and a more equitable future for all North Carolinians.
We will continue to advocate tirelessly until these vital funds are released, and North Carolina can fully realize the promise of electric vehicles. Stay tuned for updates on this critical litigation and how you can support our ongoing work for clean air and a healthy climate in North Carolina.
