Federal EV Charging Stations Not Being Turned Off (For Now)

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A number of weeks in the past, I noticed a bunch of headlines in regards to the Trump administration pulling the plug on all federal EV charging stations. Scandalous! Idiotic! Completely in character. I figured another person on the staff was going to cowl it, so I didn’t look extra intently. Then, nobody coated it. I considered it a handful of occasions since then, however by no means learn a full story on it. Then, final night time, I noticed a Snopes article about it….

Snopes is within the enterprise of investigating rumors and figuring out in the event that they’re true or a fable, so I used to be curious what that meant with regard to this story. The reply is: it’s just a little sophisticated.

Initially, it appears there’s no affirmation but of any federal EV charging stations getting turned off or eliminated.

“On Feb. 20, Colorado Public Radio reported that EV chargers at the Denver Federal Center would ‘likely soon be shut down’ after reviewing an internal email from ‘multiple sources.’ According to the report, the email read: ‘As GSA has worked to align with the current administration, we have received direction that all GSA-owned charging stations are not mission critical.’” As Snopes rightfully factors out, that final assertion doesn’t essentially imply they’re shutting off or eradicating charging stations — the implication could possibly be that they simply aren’t going to purchase extra (not good, after all, however not practically as dangerous the opposite assumption). Sadly, that preliminary reported led to others leaping on the concept and publishing surprising headlines.

There’s apparently been no affirmation from the federal authorities or White Home about this matter. Heck, it might even be that the federal government is simply going to consider this concern and will go forward and hold shopping for and putting in EV charging stations — although, that appears extremely unlikely at this level. Snopes reached out to the GSA in regards to the matter and received the next response:

On January 24, 2025, the GSA Appearing Administrator and Deputy Administrator issued a memorandum directing the momentary suspension of all new GSA obligations, together with new awards, job and supply orders, and modifications and choices, with restricted exceptions.

This momentary suspension consists of federal fleet orders of zero emission automobiles. GSA can also be working with our company companions to substantiate put in Electrical Automobile Provide Tools (EVSE), or EVSE associated initiatives nonetheless in planning/execution phases, are mission vital in nature and in assist of fleet EVs. Presently, no motion has been taken concerning EVSE at federal buildings throughout the nation.

So, that’s the place issues stand. Not good, however not fairly as horrible as headlines implied … but.

Notably, as effectively, the GSA’s fleet electrification webpage has been eliminated. You possibly can nonetheless view the archive by way of the Wayback Machine, although. (Facet observe: the Wayback Machine is wonderful, a world treasure.)

If we get extra information or an replace on what’s going on with the US authorities’s EV charging stations, we’ll let you realize. Ironic that probably the most well-known face of the EV revolution has aligned himself with a political celebration that’s so anti-EV and pro-fossil gas. Will he do something to reverse these anti-EV insurance policies? Absolutely not. Ridiculous, however that is the world we dwell in.