Only one state boasts more EVs than Florida, but the state has fewer chargers per vehicle than the national average. Despite that, state officials have decided to redirect federal funding intended for EV charging to build out an electric air taxi network, according to a report from the Miami Herald.
Florida was awarded nearly $200 million under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program that is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. But the state never spent the money, claiming that private companies have done a sufficient job building EV charging networks. The Florida Department of Transportation said it will instead use that money to build 32 landing pads with charging stations for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs.
The market for eVTOLs remains nascent. While startups have been making strides toward production-ready aircraft, they’ve also started pivoting to defense applications.
But the Florida DOT is hopeful that the small aircraft, which generally hold four to five passengers, will alleviate the state’s notorious traffic.
The NEVI program, under updated guidance from the Trump administration, allows states with “fully built out” EV charging corridors to reallocate the money toward “EV charging infrastructure on any public road or in other publicly accessible locations.”
Other states like New York and North Carolina have used the funding to build chargers in communities, which allow renters and homeowners without assigned parking to charge EVs.
Florida’s plan envisions landing pads and chargers for air taxis at places like golf courses, luxury apartment buildings, and airports, the Herald said.