U.S. proposal to require 100% domestic content for highway EV chargers risks stalling NEVI rollout

A recent proposal from the Department of Transportation would revoke an existing waiver and push the Buy America requirement for electric vehicle charging hardware on federally aided highways to full domestic content. The change targets projects funded under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program, a multi-billion dollar federal effort to build high-speed chargers along major corridors. Legal tensions are already playing out: a federal judge issued a nationwide order protecting states’ access to NEVI funds after an earlier administrative freeze drew litigation from a coalition of states and advocacy groups. Opponents of the proposed rule say moving to 100 percent domestic content will constrict supply, raise costs, and slow station rollouts at a critical moment for EV adoption. Supporters frame the proposal as a push to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and keep taxpayer dollars circulating domestically, but industry observers warn that charger components and specialized equipment are still sourced globally and supply chains cannot flip overnight. States that must meet tight deployment schedules to receive federal dollars could confront delays while procurement processes are rewritten and suppliers requalified. The policy shift could prompt additional legal challenges from states and advocacy groups that have already prevailed in court, creating further uncertainty around timelines and obligations. For charger manufacturers and network operators, the change raises questions about certification, lead times, and which components qualify under an elevated domestic-content test. Political dynamics underpin the debate: protecting domestic industry resonates with some constituencies, yet the practical effect may be fewer functioning chargers delivered on schedule. The proposal also reframes NEVI’s goals, shifting some emphasis from rapid network coverage to industrial policy outcomes. If implemented without transitional or waiver mechanisms, the rule risks constraining public-private partnerships that underpin most charging deployments today. Regulators, states, and industry will now face choices: seek exemptions, accelerate domestic sourcing investments, or accept slower program delivery. The dispute highlights a wider tradeoff in infrastructure policy between near-term service rollout and longer-term industrial strategy. Observers will watch closely for administrative guidance on qualifying components, enforcement practices, and whether further litigation will shape the ultimate outcome.