Finding
Most federal EV programs ended or stalled in 2025-26; what still pays out is grants for fleets, buses and airports
As of October 2026, the federal tax credits for EVs and chargers have ended, vehicle greenhouse gas standards have been repealed, and the main charging and school bus grant programs are paused, in court or being redesigned. The programs still paying out are older, narrower grants: EPA's DERA diesel replacement grants, FTA's Low-No bus program and FAA's airport programs.
Status changes quickly and often in court. NEVI charging funds flow because a federal judge barred DOT from withholding them; CFI grant payments remain paused while states sue; California's vehicle waivers were revoked by Congress, restored by a district court and appealed. The table below gives each program's status and the date that set it. Detail for the tax credits is on EV and Home Tax Credits and for charging grants on Charging Incentives.
Programs
Federal programs at a glance
Status as of October 2026.
| Program | Agency | Status | Key date or detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean vehicle credits (30D, 25E, 45W) | Treasury / IRS | Ended | Vehicles acquired by Sep 30, 2025 |
| Charger credit (30C) | Treasury / IRS | Ended | Placed in service by Jun 30, 2026 |
| ATVM loans | DOE | Replaced | Energy Dominance Financing; $29.9B de-obligated Jan 22, 2026 |
| NEVI formula funds | DOT / FHWA | Active under court order | Washington v. DOT judgment, Jan 2026; FY2026 last formula year |
| CFI grants | DOT / FHWA | Paused, in litigation | No FY2026 funding notice |
| Clean School Bus | EPA | Paused, being redesigned | RFI Feb 19, 2026 |
| Clean Ports | EPA | Awards under way | 51 grants, ~$3B; competitions closed |
| Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles | EPA | Closed | Unobligated funds rescinded by OBBBA |
| DERA diesel grants | EPA | Active | 2026 notice Oct 7, 2026; ~$180M |
| Low-No bus grants | DOT / FTA | Active | FY2026 round closed Sep 21, 2026 |
| Airport ZEV pilot | FAA | Active | Pre-applications due Nov 1 |
| VALE | FAA | Active | AIP-funded |
| Clean Cities and Communities | DOE | Active | Now under the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation |
| Federal fleet ZEV requirements | GSA | Ended | EO 14057 revoked Jan 20, 2025 |
| Vehicle GHG standards | EPA | Repealed | Final rule Feb 12, 2026; in litigation |
| CAFE penalties | NHTSA | Ended | Civil penalty set to $0 by OBBBA |
| California waivers (ACC II, ACT) | EPA / Congress | In litigation | Revoked Jun 12, 2025; restored by court Sep 2, 2026; appealed |
Non-federal
Two non-federal credit systems
| System | How it works | More |
|---|---|---|
| ZEV credits | State programs: automakers earn 0.4-1.3 credits per plug-in hybrid and 1-4 per BEV or fuel cell vehicle | State EV Laws |
| LEED points | One point for green vehicles: 5% preferred parking or a 20% discount, plus Level 2 charging on demand response | US Green Building Council |
Sources
Sources and scope
- Scope
- Federal EV, charging and vehicle programs and their status
- Sources
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, July 4, 2025); IRS; DOE Office of Energy Dominance Financing; FAA; EPA (Clean Ports, DERA, Clean School Bus); CRS (June 2026); Washington v. DOT; DTN on the waiver appeal
- Updated
- October 2026