Judge Protects Billions for Reliable EV Charging; Cleaner Air, & Lower Driving Costs Across the Country - CleanTechnica

A U.S. District Court Judge Tana Lin ruled in favor of 17 states and environmental groups in a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s freeze of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, a $5 billion federal initiative to build reliable, high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along U.S. highways. The court permanently barred the U.S. Department of Transportation from withdrawing funds, canceling state implementation plans, or interfering with the program, ensuring that states can proceed with NEVI-funded charging infrastructure projects. The lawsuit was led by Washington, Colorado, and California, with intervening plaintiffs including the Sierra Club, NRDC, Climate Solutions, and others representing broader public interests. The court’s decision is significant because it protects billions in federal funding intended to expand EV charging networks, which will enable longer-distance EV travel, reduce driving costs, and improve air quality nationwide. Advocates emphasized that the ruling restores certainty and momentum to a critical program designed to support the national transition to