ORIGINAL REPORTING: The Electrification In The Infrastructure Bill

Federal Infrastructure Bills Would Drive Transportation Electrification

Herman K. Trabish | October 5, 2021 (California Current)

Editor’s note: The bipartisan bill was passed and is successfully being put to work. Build Back Better is all but bupkus.

Two federal proposals to advance electric vehicles in California and across the nation are the $1.2 trillion Invest in America (HR 3684) bill, already passed by the Senate, and the House’s controversial and still evolving $3.5 trillion .

There is $30.7 billion in Invest in America to advance EVs, according to Atlas EV Hub. That includes $7.7 billion in funding for ZEVs, $12.7 billion for “clean” vehicles, including hybrids, and $10.3 billion for battery manufacturing and recycling and transportation electrification-related power system infrastructure.

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There are grants for charging and fueling infrastructure, public school efficiency and renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, Atlas reported. Funds also are included for studies on electrification impacts and critical minerals mining, charging station standards, network interoperability, and medium- and heavy-duty truck, fleet, bus, ferry, and port emissions reductions.

The more ambitious but uncertain House Act provides $34.5 billion for ZEV-related projects, Atlas reported. It also could provide as much as $117.1 billion in “clean” funding for which ZEV-related manufacturing, production, deployment projects are eligible.

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The House Act adds $10 billion in grants for vehicle and charging infrastructure deployment, for battery recycling, and for transportation electrification at ports and airports. It also provides $22.5 billion for federal fleet electrification and $15 billion for charging station and rapid transit project development in low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Importantly, it also provides $10 million to continue the $7,500 tax credit for ZEV purchases. Bonuses for a ZEV’s domestic and union-made product could make the tax credit as high as $12,500. A House provision removing the current limit of $200,000 in tax credits per ZEV manufacturer would be especially valuable at driving the market, automakers, charger providers, and advocates agreed. Many transportation electrification stakeholders seem to prefer the certainty of the Senate bill… "click here for more

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