Fast Charge TN Network

The Fast Charge TN Network is not part of Tennessee’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (TEVI). However, both programs support fast charging infrastructure on corridors in Tennessee. The Fast Charge TN Network was established before TEVI and is supported by funds from the VW Settlement EMT, whereas TEVI is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. Charging locations eligible for the Fast Charge TN Network must be located on prioritized corridor infrastructure gaps identified by TDEC OEP . TEVI projects must be located along FHWA-designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Additional differences include the minimum number of chargers at a site, the required charging plugs, the minimum charging level, the distance from the nearest highway exit, and the eligible corridors. For example, NEVI requires that a charger be located within one mile of a highway exit, whereas the Fast Charge TN Network allows chargers to be located five miles from the nearest highway exit.

TDEC has allocated funds to develop Tennessee's public fast-charging network, with the total project cost expected to reach $24 million.

TDEC is committing the maximum allowable percentage (15%) of the State’s Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust allocation to support light-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This amounts to $7.5 million dedicated to fast-charging infrastructure along major corridors. The remaining funding for the program will come from program participants.

TDEC is supportive of any fuel or technology that can reduce emissions, improve air quality, and decrease transportation-related energy costs. TDEC’s Office of Energy Programs operates a number of programs focused on promoting and educating Tennesseans about a variety of alternative fuels, advanced vehicle technologies, and sustainable transportation solutions.

With regard to electricity in particular, by engaging in and spearheading transportation electrification efforts, we can improve transportation sector efficiency and resiliency, as well as reduce vehicle emissions.

Greater adoption of EVs, which have zero tailpipe emissions, and which leverage our clean electricity generation mix, can play a significant role in reducing transportation-related emissions and improving air quality.

EVs have the ability to support our communities by providing new economic opportunities, as the use of electricity as a transportation fuel reduces fuel imports, keeps energy dollars in our state, drives local infrastructure investments, and reduces transportation costs for households and businesses.

According to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee has been Business Facilities magazine’s top state in automotive manufacturing strength for five of the last eight years, thanks in large part to our highly trained workforce. Over 16,000 EVs are produced in Tennessee annually.

Resiliency and emergency preparedness are also important topics to consider, as the resiliency of the transportation sector can be improved through increased deployment of EVs and diversification of available fuels. As battery storage and vehicle-to-grid solutions improve, EVs can be a valuable resource during disaster relief efforts, in part because many EVs can export energy from their batteries to power emergency response systems, such as communication equipment, traffic lights, or fuel pumps. Having the energy stored in a vehicle means it is mobile and can be driven to locations where power is needed. The ability to bring power where it is needed, even on a local scale, can be an invaluable resource during emergencies.

The TDEC fast charging network is built upon the efforts of Drive Electric Tennessee, a consortium that includes a variety of key stakeholders, such as local governments, automotive manufacturers, advocacy groups, and local power companies (LPCs). In 2019, Drive Electric TN conducted a Statewide EV Charging Infrastructure Needs Assessment, which highlighted the condition of Tennessee’s publicly available EV charging infrastructure and identified geographic areas where new infrastructure should be placed to support a goal of 200,000 light-duty EVs in Tennessee by 2028 (view the current number of EVs registered in Tennessee here).

Whereas high demand EV charging sites can attract private investment (e.g., retail charging, community charging), the Needs Assessment found that lower demand EV charging sites (e.g., corridor charging, rural charging) are not as appealing for private investors and may require investment from public institutions and/or utilities. The Needs Assessment also concluded that EV charging infrastructure should be prioritized for highway corridors and rural tourism destinations, to relieve range anxiety and to connect rural and urban areas.

Direct current (DC) fast charging supplements home charging while on the road, and the time needed to charge is dependent upon the capacity of the charging station and the capabilities of the vehicle. On average, most vehicles will be able to recharge at a DC fast charging station in less than 30 minutes.

Ideal charging sites will be located near prioritized corridor infrastructure gaps and will provide safe and efficient recharging for EV owners. Where possible, these sites will be located near amenities such as retail shopping centers or dining establishments.

TDEC fully supports the electrification of all transportation sectors, including consumer vehicles, commercial fleets, and public transit. However, the market barriers to electrifying each segment are different.

Through the VW Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, TDEC has already allocated funding for electrification projects aimed at school buses, transit/shuttle buses, and medium and heavy-duty freight trucks.

TDEC announced round one selected grantees in July of 2022, and TDEC's projects began in November of 2022. 

As of June 2025, all but one project from the first round of selected awards remains unfinished. All other projects are now operational and available to the public. For more information on available charging stations, please check the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center Station Locator or the Plug Share map.

Participants of the TDEC funding programs will be responsible for operating and maintaining the infrastructure. 

Manufacturers of fast charging equipment often provide maintenance services packaged with the equipment sale. 

The primary goal of this program in round one was to collaborate with local power companies (LPCs) to establish charging infrastructure. In the second round of the Fast Charge TN Network Grant Program, eligible applicants include Tennessee LPCs, for-profit and nonprofit organizations operating in Tennessee, as well as government entities such as municipalities and public higher education institutions. Each project will require a level of cost share commitment by the grantee and/or site host.

The TDEC fast charging network  builds off of the work of Drive Electric TN, a consortium that includes key stakeholders such as local governments, automotive manufacturers, TVA, advocacy groups, and LPCs. For more information on Drive Electric TN, visit www.driveelectrictn.org.

In 2019, Drive Electric TN conducted a Statewide EV Charging Infrastructure Needs Assessment, which highlighted the condition of Tennessee’s publicly available EV charging infrastructure and identified geographic areas where new infrastructure should be placed to support a goal of 200,000 light duty EVs in Tennessee by 2028 (view the current number of EVs registered in Tennessee here).

Whereas high demand EV charging sites can attract private investment (e.g., retail charging, community charging), the Needs Assessment found that lower demand EV charging sites (e.g., corridor charging, rural charging) are not as appealing for private investors and may require investment from public institutions and/or utilities. The Needs Assessment also concluded that EV charging infrastructure should be prioritized for highway corridors and rural tourism destinations, to relieve range anxiety and to connect rural and urban areas.

For more information on the Tennessee fast charging network, click here. For more information on transportation electrification in Tennessee, click here.

TVA has developed online EV resources for consumers and dealerships, which are available here. LPCs can contact their local TVA Customer Delivery representative for more information.

For more information on Drive Electric TN, click here.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 80% of EV charging occurs at home. In the Tennessee Valley, it costs less than $1 per gasoline gallon equivalent to charge an EV with residential electricity rates. Furthermore, when utilizing convenient and economical home charging for the majority of their traveling needs, consumers can expect to save up to $1,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs with an EV as compared to a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.

TVA’s new EV wholesale rate delivers electricity at costs comparable to gasoline. However, the owners of public charging stations will ultimately set the prices for consumers.

TDEC does not currently plan to offer incentives to individuals to purchase EVs.

 The previous EV federal tax credit program, maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy and the IRS, is no longer available after September 30, 2025. 

As stated by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee is committed to becoming an EV transportation leader in the Southeast with a goal to become the top state in the country for EV manufacturing.

Nissan has manufactured their all-electric Leaf in Tennessee since 2013. Volkswagen has manufactured its first EV in the U.S., the ID.4 SUV, in Chattanooga, TN. General Motors (GM) in Spring Hill, TN, expanded its facilities to manufacture its flagship Cadillac LYRIQ for the EV market. On January 28, 2021, GM announced that it would phase out petroleum-powered cars and trucks and sell only vehicles that have zero tailpipe emissions by 2035. Additionally, Ford Motor Company and SK Innovation announced on September 27, 2021, that they would build BlueOval City in West, Tennessee, where the production of Ford’s second-generation electric truck will begin in 2025. 

Increased EV adoption will keep refueling dollars local, save consumers money and put downward pressure on electricity rates by better utilizing the power system.

EVs will use electricity generated by TVA and distributed by LPCs. However, as public power providers, our business-model supports our mission of service to the people of the Tennessee Valley to make life better through low-cost, reliable energy, economic development and environmental stewardship.

TVA included EV adoption into its various planning scenarios, including the Integrated Resource Plan, to ensure that there will be the capacity to support projected EV adoption without compromising our ability to deliver electricity with 99.999% reliability, which we have maintained since 2000.

Utilizing off-peak charging, widespread adoption of EVs will help maintain low electricity rates through better utilization of the power system. 

Drivers can save up to $1,000 per year in gasoline and maintenance costs by switching to EVs. Find out how much you could save at https://energyright.com/ev/. 

The Transportation Modernization Act of 2023, Public Chapter 159 (2023), increased the registration fee for EVs and established a new registration fee for hybrid vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The electric and hybrid vehicle fee is in addition to the standard registration fee and applies to the initial registration and renewals. All-electric vehicle drivers pay a $200 registration fee each year to contribute to road tax funds through January 1, 2027, when the fee will increase. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid EV drivers pay $100 a registration fee to contribute to road tax funds through January 1, 2028, when the fee will be adjusted annually for inflation. Additional information is available in notice #23-14.

The transportation sector is responsible for the largest source of Tennessee’s greenhouse gas emissions. 200,000 EVs on our roads could avoid almost 1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, which is equivalent to the amount of CO2 emissions that would be avoided by preserving more than 1 million acres of forests.  

All of the lightning bolt symbols on the Corridor Completeness Map designate current locations of corridor fast charging infrastructure in Tennessee. Lightning bolt symbols in blue indicate current, non-proprietary fast charging locations that already meet the Minimum Technical Specifications outlined in the Fast Charge TN Network Program Guidelines (i.e., they have 120kW site power levels or higher for an individual vehicle as well as the ability to charge more than one vehicle at a time, including the ability to charge at least one CHAdeMO plug vehicle at 50kW and two simultaneous CCS vehicles at 50kW). The locations in blue are referenced when establishing current corridor completeness within the map. Lightning bolt symbols in gray indicate current, non-proprietary fast charging locations that as configured today do not meet the Minimum Technical Specifications outlined in the Fast Charge TN Network program for one reason or another (i.e., can only charge one vehicle at a time or have site power levels of 50kW or less, etc.). The locations in gray are provided for applicant reference to increase awareness of current fast charging availability, even if such locations do not yet count toward completeness of the Fast Charge TN Network.

For more information on charging station/location Minimum Technical Specifications for the Fast Charge TN Network, please review our Program Guidelines.

The goal of the Fast Charge TN Network funding program is to collaborate and support a network of fast charging stations at least every 50 miles along Tennessee’s interstates and major highways. Current corridor statuses within the Corridor Completeness Map is determined by placement of current, non-proprietary fast charging locations that already meet the Minimum Technical Specifications on the Fast Charge TN Network and are located no more than five miles driving off of a particular priority corridor. For purposes of the map, only the fast charging locations noted with the blue lightning bolts are being used as reference for establishing a “complete” corridor segment. Fast charging locations noted with the gray lightning bolts are provided on the map for applicant reference to increase awareness of current fast charging availability, even if such locations do not yet count toward completeness of the Fast Charge TN Network. Corridor gaps are thereby noted in thick gray outline within the map.

 This solicitation aims to address the infrastructure gaps that were not covered by round one projects. This second round of the Fast Charge TN Network program will focus on projects located in specific zones within these identified infrastructure gaps. Please note that these areas may change based on external project developments.

For purposes of the Corridor Completeness Map, only the fast charging locations noted with the blue lightning bolts are being used as reference for establishing a “complete” corridor segment. Fast charging locations noted with the gray lightning bolts are provided on the map for applicant reference to increase awareness of current fast charging availability, even if such locations do not yet count toward completeness of the Fast Charge TN Network. Corridor gaps are thereby noted in thick gray outline.

The goal of this funding program is to collaborate and support a network of fast charging stations at least every 50 miles along Tennessee’s interstates and major highways. The Program encourages applicants to identify fast charging sites that do not directly compete with any existing fast charging sites. However, applicants are allowed to pursue fast charging sites that are less than 50 miles away from existing fast charging sites, especially in cases where such sites are more appealing for fast charging installation and/or should existing fast charging sites not currently contribute to completeness of the Fast Charge TN Network.

For more information on Site Selection, please review our Program Overview and Program Guidelines.

Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst, TDEC Office of Energy Programs, Mark.Finlay@tn.gov,615-772-6011, or Hannah Carroll, Grants Program Coordinator, TDEC Office of Energy Programs, Hannah.Carroll@tn.gov, 615-571-0333.

Eligible applicants include Tennessee LPCs, for-profit or nonprofit organizations operating in Tennessee, and government entities such as municipalities or public higher education institutions.

Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted electronically through the TDEC Online Grants Management System by the specified deadline.

Applications must be submitted by September 19 at 4 p.m. CDT.

Applicants must commit to owning, operating, and maintaining the EV infrastructure for at least five (5) years after the equipment is procured, installed, and commissioned.

Yes, all applicants must provide at least 20% of the total project costs as direct or in-kind cost share.

• The charging infrastructure must be publicly accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. 
• Sites must be within identified infrastructure gap areas and located 1–5 driving miles from prioritized corridors. 
• Each site must have at least two DC fast chargers, with a maximum of four, capable of delivering a minimum of 50 kW each. 
• A minimum of two Combined Charging System (CCS) ports is required, and additional port standards can be proposed. 

The maximum award is $150,000 per charger, up to $600,000 per site.

Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis after the project is completed and the charging stations are commissioned.

Grantees have 15 months from contract execution to complete their projects. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, applicants must coordinate with their local power company (LPC) before submitting an application.

All program income (gross income earned by the program participant that is directly generated by the project or earned as a result of the project funding during the contract term) must conform with the following requirements:

• Program income must be reinvested in or used to defray ongoing costs of the project;
• Program income must be used for the purposes and under the conditions of the Grant Contract;
• Costs incidental to the generation of program income may be deducted from gross income to determine program income, provided these costs have not been charged to the State;
• Taxes, special assessments, levies, fines, and other such revenues raised by the Grantee are not program income unless the revenues are specifically identified in the State Grant Contract or by State agency regulations as program income; and
• There are no requirements governing the disposition of program income earned after the end of the Grant Contract period of performance. 

The requirements on program income shall remain in effect for the duration of the Grant Contract term.

Program income must be reinvested in or used to defray ongoing costs of the project. Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to, fees associated with maintenance and repairs, site host property rental costs, improvements made to the site (i.e., addition of canopies, walkways, landscaping, etc.), and meeting a Grant Contract’s mandatory cost share requirement.

Yes.