Daily EV news · US · 5 February 2026
EV Charging
Dallas secures regional funding for 10 public EV charging sites at libraries and recreation centres
Dallas has received funding approval from the North Central Texas Council of Governments for 10 city-owned EV charging locations, including the Hampton Illinois Branch Library, Pleasant Grove Branch Library, and three recreation centres. The projects, estimated at $645,600 in total, are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, with grant funding covering up to 80% of installation costs and a portion of long term operations and maintenance. The sites were selected from 16 submitted locations, with four placed on a waitlist, and support Dallas's goal of installing 1,500 EV charging outlets by 2030 under its Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan.
Why it matters
The approval demonstrates how U.S. federal infrastructure grants are enabling municipalities to deploy charging at public facilities in underserved areas, creating procurement opportunities for installers and operators. Dallas's phased rollout, targeting 1,500 outlets by 2030, signals sustained demand for turnkey charging solutions on publicly owned land.
Downey awards $1.52 million contract for five dual-port Level 3 chargers at Civic Center
Downey City Council approved a $1.44 million contract with Positive Energy, Inc. to design, procure and install five dual-port Level 3 fast-charging stations near Downey Library, with a 5 percent contingency bringing total project cost to approximately $1.52 million. The Level 3 chargers will deliver 180 to 240 miles of range per hour, replacing three existing Level 2 stations and adding two new fast chargers to create one of the city's largest fast-charging hubs. City staff cited heavy use of existing Level 2 chargers, which provide about 25 miles per hour, as justification for the upgrade to reduce wait times and expand access.
Why it matters
The contract award provides a municipal procurement benchmark for multi-port Level 3 installations and signals growing public sector investment in fast-charging infrastructure to address capacity constraints at high-traffic civic sites. Positive Energy, Inc. secures a significant design-build project that may inform similar municipal hub deployments across California.
Electric Vehicles
New York City transit chief raises electric bus performance concerns as school fleet mandate looms
The head of New York City's mass transit system has issued warnings about electric bus performance, coinciding with preparations for a mandate requiring school fleets to transition to battery electric vehicles. The comments come as the city's education department readies its school bus operations for the regulatory shift. Specific performance metrics or timeline details were not disclosed in the available report.
Why it matters
Transit authority scepticism about EV bus reliability may influence procurement timelines and charging infrastructure planning for one of the largest urban school fleets in the United States, potentially affecting supplier selection and contract terms.
New York State electric school bus mandate nears implementation
WKTV reports that New York State's electric school bus mandate is approaching, requiring districts to transition to electric fleets. The policy aims to phase out diesel buses in favour of zero emission vehicles across the state's school transportation system.
Why it matters
The mandate will drive significant procurement activity for electric school buses and associated charging infrastructure across New York districts, creating opportunities for CPOs and equipment suppliers to support fleet electrification at scale.
Union of Concerned Scientists argues extended range EVs could outperform plug in hybrids in US market
The Union of Concerned Scientists has published analysis suggesting that extended range electric vehicles (EREVs) may deliver better environmental and operational outcomes than current plug in hybrid models in the United States. The piece critiques existing plug in hybrid technology for falling short of expectations and positions EREVs as a potential alternative. The publication appears in The Equation, the organisation's online platform for climate and energy policy commentary.
Why it matters
Fleet operators and charging infrastructure planners may need to reassess deployment strategies if vehicle manufacturers shift from plug in hybrids to EREV architectures, which could alter charging demand patterns and site utilisation forecasts. Policy advocacy from influential research bodies can shape incentive structures and procurement specifications that determine which vehicle types dominate public and commercial charging networks.
US automakers write down billions as EV retreat widens gap with China and Europe
Ford and General Motors announced $19.5 billion and $6 billion in EV related write downs respectively as they unwind or delay electric vehicle plans, with the 2026 Detroit Auto Show shifting focus to hybrids and petrol models. Electric vehicles now represent a higher share of new passenger vehicle sales in China, Europe, Vietnam and Indonesia than in the United States. The slower US production and adoption risks keeping prices higher, delaying battery and software improvements, and shifting automotive value creation to other markets.
Why it matters
The US pullback on EV manufacturing threatens the competitiveness of domestic automakers and suppliers in a global market where electrification is accelerating, potentially reducing future demand for charging infrastructure investment. Slower adoption and production in the US may delay cost reductions and technology advances that drive charging network economics and procurement decisions.
Policy & Market
Advocacy group calls for audit of 8 billion dollar US electric bus programmes after cold weather and oversight concerns
Power the Future, an energy watchdog, is demanding scrutiny of more than 8 billion dollars in federal electric bus subsidies following recent Arctic weather and citing a 2024 EPA Inspector General audit. That audit found the agency failed to track deployment of electric school buses under a 2022 rebate programme that distributed 836 million dollars, with only about 7 per cent of participating school districts completing required processes. The Low-No emissions grant programme, administered mainly through the Federal Transit Administration, received a 1.6 billion dollar infusion during the Biden administration.
Why it matters
Transit agencies and school districts procuring electric buses through federal programmes may face increased compliance checks if oversight tightens. The call for audits could slow future grant disbursements or add reporting requirements for operators relying on FTA and EPA funding streams.
White House rescinds 943 million dollars in transport funding including EV charger grants across four US states
The Trump administration has directed the rescission of 943 million dollars in transport funding from Colorado, Illinois, California and Minnesota, with the majority earmarked for electric vehicle chargers, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget on Thursday. Specific EV charging projects affected include 100 million dollars for Illinois deployment near underserved communities, 15 million dollars each for Minneapolis and St. Paul low income areas and San Francisco Bay disadvantaged communities, and 4.9 million dollars for Colorado low and middle income neighbourhoods. The administration cited waste and mismanagement as the reason for withdrawing the funds, which also covered green buses and other transport projects.
Why it matters
The rescission removes nearly a billion dollars in federal support for EV charging infrastructure, directly impacting planned rollout in underserved and disadvantaged communities across four states. CPOs and contractors with awarded or anticipated contracts tied to these grants face immediate project uncertainty and potential cancellations.