NACS; NATSO, representing truck stops, travel centers and off-highway fuel retailers; and SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers, announced their opposition to the Recharge Act (S.4989) which threatens to halt private investment in EV charging stations by amending the longstanding federal law prohibiting automotive services at rest areas.
In their statement, the associations stated that the Recharge Act threatens to undermine numerous policies that are just gaining momentum, including the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Grant Program under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
“Our industry has demonstrated a willingness to invest in EV charging. This legislation represents a misguided approach to electrification that ultimately will limit the development of a safe and reliable EV charging network,” said David Fialkov, executive vice president of government affairs for NATSO and SIGMA.
“Drivers of electric vehicles deserve all the benefits that drivers of conventional vehicles have today with plenty of options for refueling competing with one another to keep costs low and constantly improve offers including food, beverages and the full range of services that motorists have come to expect,” said Paige Anderson, director of government relations for NACS. “The Recharge Act would undermine private sector investment and instead leave electric vehicle drivers with fewer charging options at deserted rest areas that don’t give customers what they want. It makes no sense to reverse the policy choices made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act before they have a chance to work which is just what the Recharge Act would do.”
Introduction of the Recharge Act comes at a time when many state DOTs are awarding these grant dollars to private fuel retailers to build out their electric charging networks. Altering the competitive landscape stands to upend those existing installation plans already in progress.
More than half of all NEVI grants have been awarded to fuel retailing locations, underscoring both the pivotal role that fuel retailers play in building out a safe and reliable nationwide network of DC fast-charging stations and the desire by private industry to do so.
Allowing EV charging stations at rest areas will discourage private investment in electric fuel by creating an unlevel playing field in which state governments do not have to compete for customers from an advantaged location on the Interstate right-of-way. Since 1960, federal law has prohibited the sale of automotive services and food at state operated rest areas to encourage competition between private businesses located at the Interstate exit interchange.