Biden administration seeks waiver of ‘Buy American’ rules for EV chargers

Washington — The Biden administration is asking for a waiver of “Buy American” rules for federally-funded electric vehicle chargers to more rapidly roll out the infrastructure needed to scale up EV adoption.

Domestic content rules say 100% of steel, iron, and manufactured goods made mostly of steel and iron in federal highway projects must be made in the United States.

But only a handful companies can build fast EV chargers that would meet the requirements, according to a filing submitted Wednesday by the Federal Highway Administration.

An electric car charges up in San Pedro, California, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. More public chargers are being installed, but not enough to keep up with EV sales.

The agency argued that requiring companies to stick to the rules would significantly slow charger deployment as officials prepare to dole out $5 billion for chargers over the next five years under the bipartisan infrastructure law.

“Immediately applying all applicable domestic content preferences for these projects would be inconsistent with the public interest,” the agency wrote. “It is likely to delay immediate implementation of (the funding) for EV chargers, which are a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The request illustrates the tension between the administration’s interests in rapidly decarbonizing the economy and reshoring manufacturing. 

President Joe Biden has long promised to create millions of high-paying jobs by advancing clean energy and other climate-related goals. But supply chains for critical components of green technology — from the minerals in batteries to the microchips in cars and electronics — are not always reliably based in the U.S. or with allies. 

The infrastructure law sought to create a national network of EV chargers along highways to decrease “range anxiety,” in which consumers stick with gas cars because they’re worried they won’t be able to drive long distances in an EV. Auto experts say it is one of the top barriers to EV adoption. 

The law requires most of that funding to go to DC Fast chargers, which most closely mimic the experience of stopping at a gas station by charging an EV to 80% in around 30 minutes.