Michigan drops $1.8M on EV chargers for fewer than 100,000 registered statewide

The state has spent about $1.8 million to build 201 new electric vehicle chargers at multifamily properties through the first two rounds of grants given through the Clean Fuel and Charging Infrastructure Program.

Michigan is 1.9 million registered EVs away from reaching the official goal of 2 million EVs driving on public roads by 2030. There are around 85,000 registered EVs statewide.

Former President Joe Biden mandated that 66% of newly made vehicles be electric, but the Trump administration ended that mandate last week by rolling back the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.

Researchers at Michigan State University say Michigan needs to spend $1 billion building EV chargers, CapCon previously reported. 

Michigan launched a $30 million infrastructure program for EV chargers in 2024.

The program’s first four rounds of grants – two announced and two expected to be finalized soon – address multifamily housing, whose residents typically lack at-home charging options.

A newly revised request for proposals from the program extends the focus on multifamily housing with $5 million dedicated to support new charging stations.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has changed rules for the program, which focuses on existing properties, to include new multifamily housing developments. It also broadened the applicant base to encourage participation from a wider range of property owners, developers and organizations.

Each grant is capped at $300,000, and applicants must match 30% of the total requested funds. Installations that are in what the state dubs an environmental justice community are exempt from the matching fund requirement.

Grant recipients can use the funds for several purposes:

• Installing nonpublic charging and fueling stations for fleets and public transit systems
• Developing charging and fueling infrastructure for multifamily housing units
• Closing gaps in fast-charging networks outside designated alternative fuel corridors.

Eligible projects should focus on deploying level 2 (fast-charging) charging stations at multifamily housing properties. All eligible applicants must provide a Unique Entity Identifier number from the System for Award Management website.

Any organization may apply, and funds must be expended by Sept. 30, 2027. The program website provides details.

The state expects that in the coming months it will release an additional request for proposals, with a focus on public charging stations.

A summary of awards from the first two rounds of grants follows.

Round 1: $1.22 million for 21 projects

• 302 N. Saginaw, Holly: $39,371 to Current Charging for 2 charging stations
• Cavalier Manor Eastpointe: $77,790 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• Civic Plaza Associates, Southfield: $91,202 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• The Commons, Taylor: $22,712 to Walker-Miller Energy Services for 2 charging stations
• The Courtyards, Taylor: $20,237 to Walker-Miller Energy Services for 2 charging stations
• Epic Property Management, Monroe: $79,139 to Current Charging for 6 charging stations
• Huron River Apartments, Allen Park: $86,012 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Huron River Apartments, Rockwood: $36,358 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Huron River Apartments, Shelby Township: $52,658 to Current Charging for 5 charging stations
• Huron River Garden City: $62,185 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• Huron River Wayne: $44,068 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Melvindale Square Apartments, Melvindale: $73,031 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Park Forest Apartments, Dearborn Heights: $34,630 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• Park South Net-Goddard Road, Lincoln Park: $75,076 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• Park South Net-Montie Road, Lincoln Park: $98,159 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• The Parks Village, Taylor: $20,650 to Walker-Miller Energy Services for 2 charging stations
• The Ponds Village, Taylor: $22,960 to Walker-Miller Energy Services for 2 charging stations
• Simtob Management & Investment-Clayborne Drive, Kalamazoo: $75,659 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• Simtob Management & Investment-Banbury Road, Kalamazoo: $84,645 to Current Charging for 10 charging stations
• Simtob Management & Investment-S. Kendall Avenue, Kalamazoo: $65,586 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Syber Spaces, Flint: $56,644 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations.

Round 2: $626,200 for 10 projects

• 45631 Utica Group, Utica: $46,653 to Current Charging for 4 charging stations
• Auburn Ridge Town Homes, Auburn Hills: $15,444 for 10 charging stations
• Hunter College Towne Properties, Lansing: $75,237 to Unified Business Technologies for 1 charging station
• Hunter Towne Properties-Townsquare Apartments and Townhomes, Lansing: $75,237 to Unified Business Technologies for 1 charging station
• Huron River Grosse Ile: $67,643 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Lynden Parke154, Ypsilanti: $75,237 to Unified Business Technologies for 1 charging station
• OYK Rochester, Rochester Hills: $45,944 to Current Charging for 4 charging stations
• SIGU Capital Fund 24, Clinton Township: $74,116 to Current Charging for 1 charging station
• Stony Creek 202, Washington: $73,442 to Current Charging for 8 charging stations
• Westwood Invest Group, Flint: $77,247 to Current Charging for 6 charging stations.