The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has been working diligently to develop the state’s plan for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. This federal program established by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide over $73 million to Louisiana through 2026 to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors.
Louisiana FY 2024 Approved Plan
Through a competitive grant program, DOTD will develop the EV charging network along the interstate corridors. DOTD’s goal is a robust network of DC Fast Charging stations that satisfy the FHWA Alternative Fuel Corridor requirements for EVSE. As part of the strategy is to create a seamless national EV charging network, DOTD is coordinating with nearby DOT’s through participation in the National Alternative Fuels Corridor Council, which is facilitated by Clean Cities coalitions as well as through participation in meetings organized by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).
The Phase 1 map below indicates approximately 25 sites needed to achieve the minimum sites needed to achieve “fully built out” Electric Alternative Fuel Corridors under FHWA standards.
Utilizing updated station data from the AFDC Station locator, the DOTD has recalculated the EV charging infrastructure density (e.g., stations per 50 miles) along the AFC corridors, including the Interstate Highway System and a few other highways in the state.
DOTD has formed an EV planning committee consisting of representatives from state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources to coordinate on the NEVI plan. The committee has also worked closely with regional utilities to gather input on siting charging stations. Major utilities like Entergy, Southwestern Electric Power Co., and several electric co-ops presented to potential applicants in January to share best practices for partnering with utilities on projects.
Extensive public outreach is also a major part of developing Louisiana’s plan. DOTD has hosted over 25 public meetings statewide as well as conducted online surveys and mapping tools to engage communities along proposed charging corridors. Their feedback has helped refine Louisiana’s draft scoring criteria for the forthcoming NEVI grant program. DOTD aims to publish the request for proposals in the third quarter of 2023 and select projects next year.
If approved, this investment stands to significantly expand electric vehicle charging access along major highways across the state. DOTD’s vision is to deploy a network of fast chargers approximately 50 miles apart along alternative fuel corridors by 2026 to facilitate electric vehicle travel. The location of stations will be selected competitively through the grant program.
Louisiana’s NEVI plan prioritizes serving disadvantaged and underserved communities through metrics like Justice40. DOTD and its partners are committed to ongoing public engagement to maximize benefits for all residents. As Louisiana continues developing its plan with stakeholder input, the future looks bright for electric mobility in the Pelican State.
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