Ride and Drive Electric

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Joint Office of Energy and Tranportation (Joint Office)

Purpose

To address challenges to achieving an equitable clean transportation future. Anticipated topic areas include: 1) Enhancing EV Charging Resiliency, 2) Community-Driven EV Charging Deployment Benefits Planning, Implementation, and Tracking in Underserved Communities, 3) Workforce Development, 4) Increasing Commercial Capacity for Testing and Certification of High-Power EV Chargers, and 5) Validating High-Power EV Charger Real-World Performance and Reliability.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants include educational institutions, incorporated consortia, local government, Tribal governments, non-profits, private sector, states, and unincorporated consortia.

Decarbonization Considerations

For projects aiming to enhance EV charging resiliency, local governments may consider partnering with electric utilities to equip EV charging networks with on-site energy storage, microgrids, and portable power/charging services to ensure the continuity of EV charging services during intermittent power outage periods.

Equity Considerations

To achieve equitable access and opportunity in electrification, local governments should proactively work with community-serving organizations and understand how to maximize benefits for underserved and disadvantaged communities related to the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. For workforce development projects, project teams should take proactive steps to encourage broader participation among Women, Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific, Indigenous, and other underrepresented groups in the development of those workforces.

Helpful Tips

Prospective applicants should anticipate a concept paper phase for future solicitations in order to be eligible for full application consideration.

Other Notes

See here for additional information on the federal government's commitment to electrified transportation: https://driveelectric.gov/