What the NEVI Funding Restart Means for EV Charger Installation in Los Angeles — A Guide for Property Owners

Federal funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure recently resumed after a pause earlier this year. That decision has immediate implications for businesses, multifamily property owners, municipal planners, and homeowners in Los Angeles who are considering adding chargers or upgrading electrical infrastructure. At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we install EV chargers and build the supporting electrical infrastructure across Los Angeles, and we want to explain what changed with the funding, what it means locally, and how property owners can take practical steps to benefit from renewed momentum.

Quick summary: What happened with federal EV charger funding?

Earlier in 2025 the federal program that provides grants for fast EV chargers nationwide was paused. In August the administration announced it would restart the program and release the funds, honoring congressional allocations. The program — commonly discussed as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and related federal initiatives — supports deployment of chargers along designated corridors and in communities. National reporting on the restart explains the administrative pause and the decision to move forward; see NPR for background on the funding restart and the political context: NPR – After a freeze, Trump administration reluctantly agrees to fund EV chargers.

Why this matters to Los Angeles property owners

Federal funding tends to catalyze private investment and accelerate local projects. When federal grants and state matching funds are available, cities and transit agencies can expand public fast-charging networks, while businesses and landlords gain access to incentives for workplace and multi-unit dwelling chargers. Washington state’s recent court-driven restart of a specific state program shows how quickly projects can resume once funds are unlocked: Wenatchee World — WA resumes EV charger program after court rules against Trump pause.

Locally in Los Angeles and across California, restarting federal programs means greater certainty for planning and financing. This can lower the cost of installations or make larger deployments feasible — for example, adding multiple Level 2 chargers to an apartment complex, or installing DC fast chargers at retail centers and fleets. It also increases opportunities for agencies and private partners to coordinate site selection and interconnection upgrades with utility programs.

Five practical impacts property owners should know

1. Greater access to grant-funded projects and site partnerships

With federal funds flowing again, state and local agencies are better positioned to award grants and enter partnerships with private operators. That often leads to more charging sites close to highways and in underserved neighborhoods. For property owners, this can mean the opportunity to host chargers with a third-party operator paying rent or sharing revenue, or to apply for site-specific incentives for installations on private property.

2. Faster timeline for corridor and commercial charging deployments

NEVI-style funding focuses on corridor charging — the fast-charge stations that make long-distance EV travel feasible. Restarted funding helps speed permitting and contractor selection for corridor nodes, which can indirectly benefit local commercial properties by improving charging availability nearby and increasing EV traffic to retail centers.

3. Increased utility planning and interconnection support

Utilities respond to funding-driven demand by upgrading distribution equipment and offering interconnection programs. For owners considering high-power chargers, this can mean clearer procedures for service upgrades and sometimes utility rebates or financing programs. Coordination between property owners, contractors, and the utility is critical — Shaffer Construction handles permitting and interconnection planning to reduce delays.

4. More attractive economics for multi-unit and workplace charging

Grants and incentives improve the business case for installing chargers in apartment complexes, condos, and workplaces. When installation costs are offset by funding and when charging can be billed or metered to individual users, property owners can provide added value to tenants and employees while recouping costs over time through modest usage fees or parking premiums.

5. Increased attention to equity and community charging

Federal and state programs increasingly emphasize serving underserved and rural communities. That means more funds targeted to areas that historically lacked charging options. If your property is in an equity-priority neighborhood or serves community facilities, there may be specialized grant opportunities.

What types of chargers and infrastructure are impacted?

Federal funding typically supports several categories of installs:

DC fast chargers (50 kW and up) for highway corridors and high-turnover sites

Level 2 chargers (typically 6–22 kW) for workplaces, multifamily housing, and retail

Electrical service upgrades, transformers, and conduit work needed to support these chargers

Site work such as signage, ADA-access improvements, and curb modifications

Large-scale deployments and corridor chargers often require coordination with public agencies and grid upgrades. Recent industry coverage highlights rapid expansion by large networks and major retail partners — for example, national retail rollouts that could bring thousands of chargers into shopping centers and parking lots: The Cooldown — Walmart reveals plans for game-changing addition to store parking lots. While those national rollouts are distinct from government-funded projects, both trends increase demand for experienced electrical contractors to do reliable installations.

How property owners should prepare now

Whether you’re a small business owner, property manager, homeowner association, or municipality, take these practical steps to capitalize on restarted funding:

1. Assess site power and electrical capacity

Start with a site survey and load analysis. Many projects fail to launch because the existing electrical service isn’t adequate. A qualified electrical contractor can identify whether you need panel upgrades, a larger service, or transformer work and provide cost estimates.

2. Prioritize charger type by use case

Choose Level 2 chargers for overnight or dwell-time parking (multifamily, workplace) and DC fast chargers for high-turnover retail or corridor needs. Consider future scalability — installing raceways and space for additional chargers often costs much less during initial construction.

3. Explore available incentives and grants

Watch state and local programs as they re-open applications tied to federal funding. Grant timelines can be short once funds are released, so gather site documents (as-built drawings, service capacity, property ownership records) in advance. Local agencies will sometimes require matched funds or commitment letters from site hosts — having a contractor ready to provide estimates and timelines strengthens applications.

4. Plan for long-term operations and maintenance

Charging stations require software management, payment systems, and occasional repairs. Decide whether you want to operate and maintain chargers yourself or partner with a network operator who handles software and payments. Contracts should clearly define responsibilities for uptime, maintenance, and electricity billing.

5. Engage a contractor experienced with permitting and utilities

Permitting, utility interconnection, and compliance with local codes are often the slowest parts of a project. Working with an experienced local contractor shortens timelines and reduces surprises. Shaffer Construction has experience with permitting in Los Angeles and handling utility coordination, site prep, and electrical work from small Level 2 jobs to commercial and fleet installations.

Emerging trends to watch

The charging landscape is evolving quickly. A few trends to monitor:

Rapid expansion of private charging networks and retail partner rollouts, increasing public charging access in retail locations.

Growing software and payment integration that affects how stations are managed and monetized.

Innovations in charger power levels and modular designs that simplify future upgrades. Industry coverage on charging network growth and platform strategies provides context for how these trends may affect site selection and operations: AInvest — Hypercharge Networks: Pioneering the EV Charging Revolution.

Why choose a local contractor for your EV charger project?

Local contractors combine technical expertise with knowledge of municipal permitting, utility territory rules, and common local challenges. In Los Angeles, issues like street accessibility, parking regulations, accessibility (ADA) requirements, and LADWP interconnection processes are unique. Working with a contractor who understands Los Angeles’ permitting environment reduces the risk of delays and helps projects stay within budget.

Next steps: how Shaffer Construction can help

If you own or manage property in Los Angeles and are considering EV chargers, Shaffer Construction, Inc. provides end-to-end services:

Site evaluation and load analysis

Design and engineer-of-record coordination

Permitting and LADWP/utility interconnection support

Electrical infrastructure upgrades (transformers, panels, conduit)

Charger installation, testing, and commissioning

Ongoing maintenance and warranty work

We’ll also help assemble documents for grant applications and coordinate timelines so your installation is competitive for public funding rounds.

Contact Shaffer Construction

For a consultation or site survey in Los Angeles, reach out:

Website: www.shaffercon.com

Phone: 323-642-8509

Email: hello@shaffercon.com

Address: 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Sources and further reading

NPR — After a freeze, Trump administration reluctantly agrees to fund EV chargers: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/nx-s1-5501584/ev-charger-nevi-funding

Wenatchee World / The Seattle Times reporting on Washington state resuming EV charger program: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/wa-resumes-ev-charger-program-after-court-rules-against-trump-pause/article_bf163567-2238-43b9-9363-b20a91d3f75f.html

The Cooldown — Coverage of national retail EV charging rollouts (example: Walmart): https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/walmart-ev-chargers-network-expansion/

AInvest — Analysis of charging network expansion and platform strategies: https://www.ainvest.com/news/hypercharge-networks-pioneering-ev-charging-revolution-north-america-2508/

InsideEVs (iHeart) — Industry podcast coverage on federal funding restart and market updates: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-insideevs-plugged-in-podca-61771669/episode/fords-30k-ev-bet-trump-289628736/

If you’d like a no-obligation site assessment or help preparing for grant applications, contact Shaffer Construction and we’ll walk you through the options for your property.