The Biden administration has announced $11 million for EV chargers in Philadelphia, aiming to boost accessibility and support electric vehicle adoption.

Most of these chargers will be in Philly, with 75 stations in the city and 25 in nearby areas. The money comes from a program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was passed back in 2021. The city and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission are working together to figure out where these chargers will go, especially in neighborhoods that need them the most.
This funding isn’t just for the chargers themselves. It will also cover community engagement, planning, and even workforce development. However, there’s no word yet on when these chargers will actually be up and running.
Officials say this is crucial for people in Philly who don’t have garages or driveways. It’ll make it easier for them to charge their cars and hopefully encourage more folks to switch to electric vehicles. U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon emphasized that having a good network of public chargers is key to making the transition to EVs smoother for everyone.
Mayor Cherelle Parker added that better access to chargers aligns with the city’s climate goals and her vision for a cleaner, greener Philadelphia.
This announcement comes on the heels of nearly $40 million in other grants for various projects in the city. The federal government is really pushing to improve EV infrastructure across the country, with a total of $635.69 million in grants for charging stations in 31 states and D.C.
In Pennsylvania, there are also grants for other areas, like $4.1 million for 150 EV ports in Allegheny County. But there have been some complaints about how slowly the rollout of these programs has been.
As of now, only a handful of NEVI-funded chargers are operational nationwide, which is a bit concerning. Pennsylvania is set to receive a total of $171.5 million from these programs, but only a few chargers are currently up and running.
This new $11 million grant adds to the city’s previous federal funding for EV chargers. Earlier rounds of grants focused on highway chargers, but now the city is looking to install chargers in more accessible locations, especially in underserved neighborhoods.
They’re also getting $1.5 million for a program to train local residents for jobs in the electric vehicle industry. The city is actively seeking proposals from companies to install chargers at no cost to taxpayers, which is a smart move.
So, it looks like Philadelphia is gearing up to make electric vehicle charging more accessible, and that’s definitely a step in the right direction!