Washington, D.C. – Today, the Departments of Transportation and Energy (DOT and DOE) announced the creation of a joint office that will facilitate the development of a national electric vehicle (EV) charging network, among other electrification provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) commends the DOT and DOE on this landmark announcement. Since launching its policy platform in January 2021, ZETA has advocated for the creation of a DOT and DOE joint office to coordinate the implementation of federal EV policy. ZETA believes this office will facilitate the effective implementation of federal EV policy and help accelerate transportation electrification, including by providing technical assistance to localities, site hosts, and other stakeholders. Given the importance of successful implementation, this initiative has been a cornerstone of the ZETA policy platform.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm will sign a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to formally create the office. The White House has said that this office will “​​provide states, communities, industry, labor, and consumer groups with a coordinated federal approach and a ‘one-stop-shop’ for resources on EV charging and related topics.”

“Today’s announcement of a new DOT and DOE joint office has arrived at the perfect time,” said Joe Britton, the Executive Director of ZETA. “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes the single largest investment to date in electrifying the United States’ transportation system, so it is vital that these two departments collaborate closely on behalf of the public. This partnership will help ensure that the infrastructure bill’s EV investments are delivered as effectively as possible, which will maximize the investments’ capacity to spur economic development and generate cost-savings for consumers, along with cutting carbon emissions and improving public health.”

The DOT and DOE joint office will be specifically tasked with coordinating issues related to EV deployment, operation, maintenance, and charging. It will also coordinate issues related to vehicle-to-grid integration, charging needs, and charging infrastructure along rights of way. 

About ZETA

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) is a federal coalition focused on advocating for 100% EV sales by 2030. ZETA is committed to enacting policies that drive EV adoption, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, secure American global EV manufacturing dominance, drastically improve public health, and significantly reduce carbon pollution.