What funding was released for EV infrastructure this month?

Agency communications in mid‑December outlined new awards under the U.S. Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program and the EU’s CEF Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility. These packages focus on corridor charging, community sites, and heavy‑duty fueling along TEN‑T routes. Specific project lists are published by FHWA and the European Commission, with reliability, open payment, and multi‑connector requirements highlighted in program materials. See FHWA’s newsroom and EC Transport news for details.

How are heavy‑duty truck charging networks evolving?

Heavy‑duty charging is moving from pilots to multi‑site corridors. Milence reported new hubs in northern Europe with high‑power capability and driver amenities tailored for rest cycles and turnaround needs. In the U.S., state energy commissions and utilities are prioritizing fleet depots, streamlined interconnections, and load management to accelerate commissioning. These builds are aligned with public corridor funding and AFIR‑style reliability benchmarks to support freight electrification and uptime compliance.

Which companies expanded fast‑charging footprints in recent weeks?

Mercedes‑Benz and its partners added premium hubs featuring lit canopies, amenities, and card-based payments to improve convenience. Meanwhile, EVgo, GM, and Pilot Company activated additional DC fast charging stations at travel centers, strengthening coverage across southern and midwestern routes. Operators emphasized connector diversity and ADA accessibility as SAE J3400 is adopted alongside CCS, with new sites highlighted in recent company releases and filings.

What standards and compliance factors are shaping builds?

EU AFIR mandates card access, transparent pricing, and minimum uptime thresholds, shaping awarded corridor projects and national tenders. In the U.S., federal program guidance stresses interoperability, open payment, and reliability metrics while automakers adopt SAE J3400 next to CCS. Site designs increasingly account for pull‑through bays, lighting, and driver amenities, improving utilization. These standards ensure consistent user experience and better network performance across regions.

How are grid constraints being managed for high‑power sites?

Developers are deploying battery buffers, phased transformer upgrades, and smart load orchestration to bring capacity online faster at urban sites and freight depots. Utilities and commissions are streamlining permits and interconnections, reducing lead times where feasible. These approaches enable stations to meet corridor program timelines and reliability targets while preparing for megawatt loads. December notes from commissions and operators underscore practical solutions to accelerate commissioning.

Gridside Race: U.S. and EU Unleash New EV Corridor Funds as Milence and EVgo Expand

Governments in the U.S. and EU released fresh funding for EV and heavy‑duty charging corridors in December, with new hubs coming online from Milence, BP Pulse, and EVgo. OEM-backed networks and updated standards are pushing rapid upgrades at travel centers and fleet depots.

Published: December 29, 2025 By James Park Category: Automotive

Gridside Race: U.S. and EU Unleash New EV Corridor Funds as Milence and EVgo Expand

Executive Summary

U.S. and EU agencies announced new EV and alternative fuel infrastructure awards in mid-December, unlocking an estimated $2–3 billion for corridor charging and hydrogen projects, according to official releases (FHWA newsroom; European Commission Transport news).
Heavy-duty charging builds accelerated, with Milence unveiling new truck hubs in northern Europe and fleet-focused operators expanding megawatt-capable sites (Milence news).
OEM-backed networks progressed: Mercedes‑Benz and partners expanded premium fast-charging hubs, while the Pilot Company, EVgo, and GM initiative added new DC fast chargers across U.S. travel centers (EVgo news releases).
Regulatory clarity tightened: AFIR guidance in the EU and fresh U.S. corridor program communications emphasized uptime, open-payment, and multi‑connector compliance (EU AFIR overview; FHWA).

Policy Money Hits the Road

U.S. transportation officials moved to the next tranche of Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) awards in mid-December, adding hundreds of millions in grants to states and localities for EV corridors, community charging, and alternative fuels. Agency releases highlight corridor eligibility, disadvantaged-community siting, and a focus on freight applications (FHWA newsroom). The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation emphasized reliability and open-payment requirements consistent with earlier federal guidance (Joint Office).

Across the Atlantic, the European Commission published results under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure, selecting projects spanning fast-charging corridors and hydrogen refueling for heavy-duty transport. The awards, announced in recent weeks, are estimated in the low billions of euros, targeting trans-European transport network (TEN-T) routes and stringent AFIR compliance (European Commission Transport news; CINEA AFIF call...

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