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Home Joint Office of Energy and Transportation

Technical Assistance and Resources for Communities

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) offers resources and provides technical assistance to communities at all stages of interest, planning, and deployment of advanced mobility technologies.

Communities across America are essential to the development of an electrified transportation system that is convenient, affordable, reliable, and safe. As the nation experiences the most significant transportation transformation in a century, coupled with innovative but unfamiliar approaches to alternative fuel transportation, communities need support. The Joint Office is dedicated to partnering with communities to ensure the successful deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging and refueling infrastructure. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program provide dedicated funding to help support the deployment of alternative fueling and EV charging infrastructure.

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program

The CFI Discretionary Grant Program from the Federal Highway Administration provides funding to strategically deploy public EV charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas refueling infrastructure. Created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the CFI Program provides two funding categories of grants:

  • Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program)
  • Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program)

Another resource to guide the buildout of alternative fueling infrastructure is the Alternative Fuel Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Transportation (AFLEET) CFI Emissions Tool. This resource can assess estimated emissions reductions from EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated AFCs.

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program

The NEVI Formula Program provides dedicated funding to states to strategically deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, convenience, and reliability.

Under this program, each state is required to submit an annual State EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Plan) that describes how the state intends to use NEVI Program funds for each fiscal year.

Funding

Securing funding is critical to successfully deploying electric vehicle charging stations, refueling infrastructure, and electric transit and school buses. The Joint Office continually lists updates on funding opportunities.

Funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) are also listed on Grants.gov, the portal for numerous grant programs administered by federal government agencies, and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) eXCHANGE for all EERE FOAs.

Learn more about the $54 million FY24 Communities Taking Charge Accelerator funding opportunity administered by the Joint Office through DOE for projects that will expand community e-mobility access and provide renewable, reliable energy. 

Resources

Below are resources for communities preparing to plan and deploy EV charging infrastructure.

This guidebook offers interactive resources to help communities and other stakeholders plan and build infrastructure to support an electrified transportation system.

These reports from the Federal Highway Administration, Office of Performance and Innovative Finance, help communities navigate Public-Private Partnerships as they plan and deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure

This white paper from the Joint Office and U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center coalesces emerging practices and technologies that can bring the benefits of electric mobility infrastructure to residents in multifamily housing, residents dependent on curbside or on-street parking, and those without access to privately owned electric vehicles.

This toolkit provides resources from DOT to assist rural stakeholders with planning for EV charging infrastructure.

This case study from a pilot streetlight charging project in Kansas City, Missouri, highlights the role of community engagement when addressing EV charging deserts. The pilot project was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office.

This guidance document from the Rocky Mountain Institute, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and the Sustainable Energy Action Committee supports local code officials with planning and zoning for EV charger deployment.

These summaries from DOE's Clean Cities and Communities partnership draw out lessons learned and key considerations for engaging stakeholders, site selection factors, and permitting/policy elements for EV charging projects.

This is the educational media channel for DOE’s Clean Cities and Communities.

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) provides information, data, and tools to help fleets and other transportation decision makers find ways to reach their energy and economic goals using alternative and renewable fuels, advanced vehicles, and other fuel-saving measures.

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is available to help community stakeholders implement advanced mobility technologies.

Joint Office Community Technical Assistance

The Joint Office provides technical assistance to states, communities, and tribal nations implementing projects under federally funded EV charging opportunities. Technical assistance resources are also available to transit agencies and school districts deploying electric school buses. Technical assistance support can range from quick responses to questions on funding opportunities, data, and resources to in-depth, hands-on assistance and analysis. In-depth technical assistance connects communities with a research team who provides direct technical support to help accelerate the successful deployment of electric vehicles and infrastructure.

Examples of in-depth technical assistance include:

  • Planning for deployment of EV chargers and refueling infrastructure.
  • On-site battery energy storage and mobile power generation options.
  • Power needs analysis and tips for working with your local utility.
  • Infrastructure siting needs and support.
  • Training and workforce development opportunities.

Contact us to request Joint Office technical assistance.

Other Available Technical Assistance

  • Energy to Communities Program – Through the Energy to Communities (E2C) Program, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, other national laboratory experts, and select organizations provide three types of technical assistance support to communities to address energy challenges and questions, including in-depth partnerships, peer-learning cohorts, and expert match.
  • Department of Transportation Thriving Communities – Provides technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support.
  • Clean Cities and Communities – Clean Cities and Communities supports transportation stakeholders through technical assistance with affordable, efficient, reliable transportation fuels; energy efficient mobility systems; and other fuel-saving technologies and practices.
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