Tesla, along with three other industry partners, has quietly backed an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency application that won $100 million in funding to build electric truck charging stations across the state. The award, announced last week, is the largest given out by the Biden Administration's Federal Highway Administration in the second round of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program.

The CFI program, which distributed $636 million to 49 applicants in this round, aims to support the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the United States. This latest round of funding follows the first round in 2024, which saw over $1 billion awarded to roughly 100 applicants. Illinois' successful bid marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to electrify its trucking corridors, with the project set to add 345 charging ports and vehicle stalls across 14 sites.

Notably, Tesla's involvement in the Illinois project comes despite the company's own $97 million project, focused on building an electric trucking corridor between northern California and southern Texas, failing to secure funding in either round of the CFI program. Tesla has been developing its own electric big rig, the Tesla Semi, for years, but has yet to bring the truck into commercial production.

Megha Lakchaura, Illinois' state EV officer, revealed that she was inspired to pursue CFI funding after seeing infrastructure startup TeraWatt and New Mexico's Department of Transportation win $63 million to build heavy-duty charging along the I-10 corridor. The Illinois EPA subsequently chose Tesla, logistics real estate firm Prologis, fleet electrification company Gage Zero, and truck stop giant Pilot as partners for the project, combining their requests into a single application to the CFI program.

Lakchaura emphasized the need for dedicated funding for heavy- and medium-duty electrification, citing the lack of resources available for these segments. The Illinois EPA's call for partners in June 2024 elicited a strong response from the market, with each partner committing to contribute some of its own funding to support the project. Prologis offered $18 million, Tesla offered $19 million, Gage Zero offered $4 million, and Pilot offered $2.5 million, in addition to the federal funding.

While the FHWA awarded slightly less than the requested $126 million, Lakchaura acknowledged that there is still work to be done in allocating the funds to each partner. The project's focus on the Midwest, a region often overlooked in electric vehicle infrastructure development, is seen as crucial for long-haul trucking. As Lakchaura noted, "We think that this hub could be of national importance."

The successful bid highlights the growing momentum behind electric vehicle adoption, with both public and private sectors investing heavily in infrastructure development. As the transportation sector continues to shift towards electrification, projects like the Illinois electric truck charging station initiative will play a critical role in supporting the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

With the Illinois project set to break ground, the industry will be watching closely to see how this investment shapes the future of electric trucking corridors in the United States. As the country continues to transition towards a more sustainable transportation system, collaborations like this one will be essential in driving progress and reducing emissions.