NEVI Under Siege: 100% Buy America Rule Could Freeze EV Charging Expansion | Taha Abbasi

The Federal Highway Administration has proposed raising the domestic content threshold for federally funded EV chargers from 55% to potentially 100%, threatening to paralyze the $5 billion NEVI charging program. Taha Abbasi analyzes how this regulatory maneuver could undermine America’s EV infrastructure buildout.

The Regulatory Chess Move

After a federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to simply freeze NEVI funds in January, the FHWA has taken a different approach: proposing modifications to the Buy America waiver that could make it nearly impossible for states to find compliant charging hardware. The proposed rule change would raise domestic content requirements from 55% to “up to 100%” of total component cost.

As Taha Abbasi explains, this is a regulatory flanking maneuver. “If you can’t freeze the money directly — which a judge already said you can’t — you change the rules around what you’re allowed to buy with it. The practical effect is the same: states can’t build chargers.”

Why 100% Domestic Content Is Currently Impossible

The EV charging supply chain is global. Key components like power electronics, connectors, and cable assemblies are manufactured across multiple countries. While domestic manufacturing capacity is growing — partly thanks to NEVI-driven investment — reaching 100% domestic content immediately is not feasible for any major charger manufacturer.

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) has warned that the proposed change is “unreasonable” and could “undermine the hard work and investments made to date.” Companies that invested in domestic manufacturing capacity based on the 55% standard are now facing the possibility that their investments won’t be enough.

Impact on Charging Infrastructure

The NEVI program has been responsible for funding thousands of EV charging stations along major highway corridors. States have been drawing down their allocated funds to build out networks that serve both current EV owners and incentivize new adoption. A procurement freeze — whether explicit or through impossibly strict standards — would stall this buildout at a critical moment.

Taha Abbasi notes the irony: “The same administration that questions EV demand is actively making it harder to build the infrastructure that would increase demand. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy — limit charging access, then point to slow adoption as evidence that EVs aren’t viable.”

Tesla’s Supercharger Advantage Grows

Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of NEVI uncertainty is Tesla. The company’s Supercharger network — built entirely with private capital — isn’t subject to Buy America requirements. While competitors wait for NEVI-funded stations, Tesla continues expanding its network, which has already become the de facto standard after adopting the NACS connector. This further entrenches Tesla’s competitive moat.

What Happens Next

The FHWA is accepting public comments on the proposed change, after which it could continue the existing waiver, modify it, or eliminate it entirely. For states with NEVI funds allocated, the uncertainty alone is enough to slow procurement decisions. Taha Abbasi expects industry pushback to be fierce, but the ultimate outcome will depend on whether the administration values domestic manufacturing policy over EV infrastructure speed.

Read more: EV Tax Credits 2026 | Tesla Supercharger Expansion

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About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com