NJEDA issues request for information for electric vehicle charging grants

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the state’s principal agency for driving economic growth, issued a request for information (RFI) July 8 regarding potential programs and funding allocations from the NJEDA to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial and industrial fleets in the state.  

New Jersey has about 1,200 public EV charging stations throughout the state. Most of these stations have been financed through the state’s It Pay$ to Plug program. About 105,000 new EVs will have to be registered between December 2024 and December 2025 to reach the statewide goal of 330,000 EVs by the end of 2025. In 2024, 13.56% of new vehicles sold were EVs, which are about 3% of all vehicles in New Jersey.

Gov. Phil Murphy, through an executive order, has set a goal of making New Jersey 100% clean energy by 2035.

The NJEDA is seeking information on the opportunities, barriers, potential partnerships, and best practices for new programs that will accelerate investment in charging infrastructure that can support fleet electrification. The authority has programs that support transportation decarbonization by addressing the purchase price of medium and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles. The NJEDA is seeking more insight regarding the associated investments required for charging infrastructure to support electrification of vehicle fleets in New Jersey.          

The RFI is seeking responses from interested stakeholders, including owners and operators of private commercial and industrial fleets, charging-as-a-service providers, electric vehicle technical assistance providers, and other subject matter experts or entities involved in fleet electrification. The agency said qualified entities do not need to be located in the State of New Jersey to provide a response.

All questions must be submitted in writing no later than 5 p.m. on July 15, 2025, via email to cleanenergy@njeda.gov.

New Jersey’s zoning laws determine where and how EV charging stations can be installed. Under the state’s Municipal Land Use Law, local governments regulate land use, including EV infrastructure. However, the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Law mandates that EV chargers be considered a permitted accessory use in most zoning districts, eliminating the need for variances in locations such as retail parking lots, office complexes, and multi-family residential buildings.