The Maryland Department of Transportation awarded $9.6 million in conditional funding on Oct. 29, 2025, to install 12 new electric vehicle charging sites under the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, advancing the state’s network along major highways.
The second-round grants, combined with 19 projects from the initial allocation, will support 31 total initiatives delivering 166 direct current fast-charging ports statewide. Sites selected this round partner with Francis Energy, Universal EV and Drake Petroleum to place chargers at gas stations, lodging facilities and a recreational center, all within one mile of interstates and other key routes. Funding covers up to 80 percent of eligible installation, operation and maintenance costs for five years, with recipients committing nearly $2.5 million in matching private investments and guaranteeing 97 percent uptime. Public access at these locations is targeted for spring 2028, pending final agreements.
“Maryland’s growing EV charging network provides assurance to future and current EV owners that there are plenty of places to plug in along their trip,” said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. “These conditional awards ensure the state’s charging network is up and ready to accommodate the rising number of EVs across Maryland.”
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, authorized under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, allocates Maryland about $63 million from 2022 through 2026 to build reliable fast chargers every 50 miles along designated alternative fuel corridors, including Interstates 95, 70 and 495. States must submit implementation plans to the Federal Highway Administration, which Maryland did on July 15, 2022, outlining deployment strategies, equity considerations and maintenance standards. The program’s formula funding prioritizes corridors connecting population centers, ensuring chargers support vehicles with ranges up to 350 miles.
In Southern Maryland, where highways like U.S. Route 301 and Maryland Route 4 funnel commuters from Waldorf to Annapolis, these expansions address gaps in fast-charging options. Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, serving Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, is deploying up to 60 chargers through 2025, including 20 Level 3 direct current fast units at sites like community centers and retail stops in Leonardtown and Prince Frederick. This aligns with state efforts, as the first NEVI round already funded chargers near the Capital Beltway’s southern stretches, reducing range anxiety for drivers heading to Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Maryland’s EV registrations reached 148,000 by Sept. 30, 2025, a 16 percent increase from January, driven by incentives like a $3,000 state rebate for new purchases and federal tax credits up to $7,500. Public charging ports statewide numbered nearly 5,400 by late October, up 19 percent since January, with over 1,700 accessible stations including 329 fast chargers. In Southern Maryland, adoption lags the state average at about 2 percent of vehicles, but registrations grew 25 percent year-over-year in St. Mary’s County alone, per Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration data.
The Maryland Department of the Environment supplemented these efforts on Oct. 21, 2025, with $5 million in grants for 35 charging projects at workplaces and corridors, prioritizing underserved areas like rural Charles County outposts. Federal guidelines require NEVI sites to offer 24-7 access, payment via common apps and compatibility with NACS and CCS connectors, standards enforced through annual audits. Private partners like those in this round must report usage data to MDOT, informing future allocations.
A third request for proposals launches early 2026 to complete corridor coverage, with leftover funds shifting to community chargers in residential zones, schools and transit hubs. This phase draws from the Maryland Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, which integrates NEVI with state goals for 50 percent electric sales by 2030. The plan, updated in 2024, incorporates public input from over 200 stakeholders, emphasizing equity for low-income and rural drivers through grants covering installation fees.
As Maryland phases out gas vehicle sales by 2035 under its climate roadmap, these ports form the backbone, with maintenance contracts requiring bi-annual inspections and grid upgrades to handle peak loads. In St. Mary’s County, where solar farms power 20 percent of co-op electricity, integrating EV stations supports net-zero goals without straining transformers. The program’s success hinges on private leverage: This round’s $2.5 million match amplifies federal dollars, a model replicated in first-round projects adding 130 ports with $11.9 million.
For drivers in La Plata or Lusby, the network means fewer detours off highways, aligning with MDOT’s vision for seamless travel. Updates on site openings and rebate applications appear on the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Plan site, while adoption metrics update weekly on Maryland by the Numbers.
