National Alternative Fuels Corridors

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) designates a national network of electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along national highway system corridors. To designate these Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC), FHWA solicits nominations from state and local officials and works with other federal officials and industry stakeholders.

FHWA must establish an AFC grant program to award grants to eligible entities, by November 15, 2022. During the designation and redesignation process, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy, FHWA will issue a report identifying charging and fueling infrastructure, best practices and guidance for predictable infrastructure deployment, analyzing standardization needs for fuel providers and purchasers, and reestablishing the goal of achieving strategic deployment of fueling infrastructure in the designated corridors.

For the 2023 Request for Nominations (RFN), state and local officials must submit nominations to FHWA by June 21, 2023. State and local agencies may nominate additional corridors, extend currently designated corridors, nominate another fuel along an already designated corridor, and update the status of previously designated corridors.

The Round 7 RFN and AFC designation is tied to funding eligibility under the NEVI Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program. The FHWA encourages nominations that focus on EV charging infrastructure along Interstate corridors, but nominations may also be submitted elsewhere on the National Highway System. Corridor projects along Round 7 AFCs are not eligible for the 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, which closes June 13, 2023. When considering Round 7 nominations, FHWA strongly encourages segments of Interstates that do not currently have an EV designation, particularly longer Interstate segments that provide important through connectivity to adjoining States.

FHWA is also requesting input on proposed Freight EV Corridors designation, outlined in the Round 7 RFN.

FHWA must update and redesignate corridors periodically thereafter. For more information, including FHWA areas of interest for corridor designations and infrastructure development, see the FHWA AFC website.