Trump reverses the $5 billion electric vehicle charger plan

Donald Trump has just thrown a wrench in the country’s electric vehicle charging network. His administration is freezing the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, leaving Tesla and other automakers in limbo.

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This measure temporarily suspends 31 million dollars of federal funding for Tesla. It could be a major blow to the adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S., where charging stations remain scarce.

The Department of Transportation sent a memorandum on Thursday informing states that the NEVI program is on hold until further notice. There have been no new approvals or funding, and it is unclear when things might resume.

Tesla’s 31 million dollars in limbo

According to Business Insider, the memorandum stated that officials are reviewing the program’s policies and will publish new guidelines this spring. But for now… everything is on hold.

This suspension not only harms Tesla. It disrupts plans in several states that relied on this funding to build the much-needed electric vehicle chargers.

The measure is part of a larger effort by Trump to dismantle federal support for electric vehicles. He has made it clear that he wants to end the so-called “electric vehicle mandate”. And this is just the beginning.

His administration is also considering eliminating the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, an important incentive that helps boost Tesla sales.

Ironically, Elon Musk supports the decision. He described the elimination of the tax credit as a “long-term” victory for Tesla, but warned that it would “devastate” competitors.

Tesla has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of NEVI, ranking third in total funding. The company received 31 million dollars in grants to expand its charging network.

Tesla has not commented on the decision, but given Musk’s closeness to Trump, it is unclear to what extent he will oppose the changes. Does the stability of the government in the White House jeopardize?

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If the $7,500 tax credit disappears and NEVI funding remains frozen, the future of electric vehicle adoption in the U.S. could be very different.