A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights ongoing challenges in the federal government’s efforts to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. While agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation have made strides in supporting the development of a nationwide EV charging network, the GAO emphasizes the need for improved performance management to ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives.
The report notes that the GAO reviewed federal efforts related to EV charging infrastructure, focusing on collaboration practices, assessment of activities, and the evaluation of programs supporting charging infrastructure. The findings underscore the importance of implementing a comprehensive performance management framework to better assess progress and inform stakeholders about the impact of federal investments in EV infrastructure.
As of April 2025, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reported that 384 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) funded chargers were open to the public. However, the GAO found that FHWA had not fully defined performance goals for some of the main purposes of NEVI, including improving access to EV chargers. Additionally, FHWA had not defined any performance goals for CFI, hindering the ability to assess progress in the near term, according to the report.
The GAO recommends that the Joint Office and DOT fully implement a performance management framework to enhance the effectiveness of federal efforts in expanding EV charging infrastructure. This includes defining measurable targets and time frames for activities, collecting and analyzing performance information, and using this data to set priorities and inform stakeholders.
The report also notes that the Joint Office, as of May 2025, was reviewing its efforts and that its future activities would benefit from better utilization of performance information to guide decision-making.
