What the Rebooted NEVI Program Means for EV Charger Projects in Los Angeles
What the Rebooted NEVI Program Means for EV Charger Projects in Los Angeles
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently moved to resume and streamline the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program — the federal program that provides up to $5 billion for EV charging stations along highways and in key locations across states. The change follows a court order that blocked an earlier suspension and comes with revised guidance intended to speed funding obligations and give states more flexibility.
Why this matters for building owners, fleets and municipalities in Los Angeles
If you own a retail property, multi-family complex, office building, fleet yard or operate public parking in Los Angeles, restarting NEVI and the new guidance affects investment opportunities and timelines in several ways:
More predictable federal funding for corridor chargers and public fast charging projects.
Faster state plan approvals and reduced administrative requirements in some areas.
Increased state-level discretion on project prioritization and implementation details.
An active market for private and public partners to plan shovel-ready projects that can tap federal funds or complementary state grants.
The USDOT guidance aims to clear bottlenecks and allow states to move funds into contracts and construction more quickly, an important change after months of uncertainty. See the USDOT guidance overview and reporting on the streamlining measures for details and state actions here.
What changed in the guidance (high level)
The updated federal guidance makes several program-level adjustments intended to speed deployment. Key themes reported across recent coverage include:
Streamlined application and reporting expectations so states can obligate funds faster.
More flexibility for states in site selection and implementation details.
Removal or relaxation of some previously emphasized allocation preferences (for example, certain prioritization criteria that were highlighted in earlier program materials).
An explicit USDOT direction to honor Congress’ original intent for NEVI while ensuring efficient use of federal dollars.
Federal reporting and news coverage indicate the changes are designed to get money moving. For additional reporting and analysis, see the NEVI funding restart coverage here and a summary of the federal decision to resume funding here.
What states and local agencies are doing now
Some states are accelerating or topping up their own programs in parallel, recognizing federal uncertainty and local priorities. For example, Colorado announced state-funded grants to add fast chargers at multiple sites even as federal channels were in flux. That kind of state-level action shows how municipalities and property owners can combine state grants with NEVI or other federal funds to complete projects faster (example).
In practice, most states must submit a plan to USDOT to access NEVI formula funds. The revised guidance is intended to help states finalize these plans and obligate money to on-the-ground projects quickly. Industry reporting notes a large share of NEVI funds remain unobligated in many states, so the next 12–24 months are critical for turning funding into physical chargers (report).
How the guidance affects project types
NEVI focuses on publicly accessible charging along designated corridors and at publicly available locations. That means:
Corridor chargers: Fast chargers intended for highway charging remain a primary NEVI use.
Public destination chargers: Publicly accessible chargers at shopping centers, municipal lots and visitor destinations can qualify when paired with state NEVI goals.
Fleet and workplace charging: While NEVI is corridor-focused, many states use complementary programs and matching funds to support depot and workplace charging for fleets and employers.
If you plan to use NEVI funds for a site, your project should meet the state’s plan criteria and federal technical requirements. The streamlining effort aims to make those criteria clearer and easier to meet, but states still control final allocations and priorities (overview).
Practical steps property owners and fleet operators should take now
Even as federal guidance evolves, property owners and fleets can prepare projects so they are shovel-ready for NEVI, state grants, or private investment. The following checklist outlines what we recommend:
1. Conduct a site readiness assessment
Evaluate existing electrical service, main breaker capacity, transformer size and available spare capacity.
Check utility interconnection requirements and timelines for upgrades.
Identify preferred charger locations, ADA access, lighting and physical security requirements.
2. Develop a project budget and phasing plan
Estimate costs for civil work (trenching, concrete pads), electrical upgrades (transformers, switchgear), chargers, and network/soft costs.
Consider phased deployment: start with a few fast chargers plus routed conduit for future expansion.
3. Coordinate with utilities and local agencies early
Large upgrades can take months — early utility engagement shortens timelines.
Work with permitting authorities and local planning to confirm site compliance and approvals.
4. Prepare documentation for grants and NEVI applications
Gather site diagrams, load studies, ownership/use agreements and operation plans.
If applying for NEVI or state funds, be ready to show how the site serves corridor needs or public access objectives.
5. Plan for operations, payments and maintenance
Define uptime expectations, maintenance schedules and remote monitoring.
Decide payment systems (networked stations with open payment preferred) and signage/wayfinding.
Common technical issues to anticipate
EV charger projects commonly encounter a few recurring technical hurdles. Early planning reduces delay and cost:
Transformer capacity: Fast chargers draw high power; many sites require transformer upgrades or additional service feeds.
Distribution and metering: Submetering, load management systems and separate meters may be required for grant compliance or business models.
Trenching and civil work: Underground conduit, ADA-compliant paths and customer parking layouts must be coordinated with local inspectors.
Network connectivity and data: Many programs require reporting uptime and usage data; choose hardware and back-end services that meet these needs.
How Shaffer Construction helps — scoped services
At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we specialize in end-to-end EV charging infrastructure in the Los Angeles area. Our services include:
Site surveys and load studies to determine electrical needs.
Engineering and design: single-line diagrams, transformer sizing, conduit routing.
Permit procurement, interconnection applications and utility coordination.
Civil and electrical construction: trenching, concrete pads, service upgrades, meter installation.
Equipment procurement and installation: charger mounting, panel and switchgear installation.
Network setup, commissioning, testing and handing over O&M documentation.
Maintenance contracts and warranty coordination to ensure uptime compliance for grant-funded projects.
We work with property owners, fleets and municipalities to build projects that meet technical and funding requirements so your site is ready when state or federal funds become available.
Funding strategies: mixing federal, state and private capital
NEVI funds are an important piece but rarely the entire capital stack. Typical blended funding approaches include:
NEVI or federal formula funds for corridor and public fast-charging infrastructure.
State grants and incentives to subsidize remaining costs (see state examples where local governments add funding to maintain momentum here).
Utility EV infrastructure programs that offer rebates or support for grid upgrades.
Private capital or site host funding for equipment, site control and operating expenses.
Public-private partnerships and developer-hosted models are common for retail, hospitality and parking operators. The important practical point: have project documents and technical readiness materials prepared before funding windows open.
Risks and policy considerations to watch
The federal guidance reduces some administrative hurdles, but policy and legal changes may continue to evolve. Watch for:
State NEVI plan approvals and how each state defines eligible sites and priorities.
Local permitting timelines and municipal requirements for curb access, signage and land use.
Possible further adjustments to program conditions as federal agencies and courts continue to weigh competing views.
Industry coverage indicates the NEVI restart is intended to respect congressional direction while expediting effective use of funds. If you are applying for funds or planning a strategic roll-out, align with state guidance and track application deadlines closely (summary).
Next steps for Los Angeles property owners and fleets
If you are considering EV chargers at your site, start with a no-cost conversation and site assessment. Typical first steps we take with clients are:
Schedule a site visit and preliminary load assessment.
Develop a site-specific feasibility memo with cost ranges and phasing options.
Identify potential funding sources and prepare a prioritized list of projects that can match NEVI or state grant timelines.
Because NEVI and other programs are active and evolving, moving early often positions projects to be first in line for funding and utility capacity upgrades.
Where to read more (selected reporting)
NEVI guidance and streamlining coverage: Traffic Technology Today
Federal funding restored and program context: Automotive News
Summary of new federal guidance and program reopening: CBT News
Reporting on NEVI reboot and unobligated fund levels: Ford Authority
Example of state-level funding continuing in parallel: Kiowa County Press (Colorado example)
Contact Shaffer Construction
If you want help preparing an EV charger project in Los Angeles — from site assessment through design, permitting and construction — contact Shaffer Construction, Inc.
Phone: 323-642-8509 Email: hello@shaffercon.com Address: 325 N Larchmont Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, CA 90004
We provide commercial and multi-family EV infrastructure services and can help you navigate funding opportunities, utility coordination and construction to get chargers operating reliably and on schedule.
Note: Federal guidance and state program rules can change. The information in this post summarizes recent news reporting and program updates; consult the state NEVI office and USDOT resources for the latest application deadlines and technical requirements.