NEVI Program Drives EV Charging Expansion Across Kansas and Missouri
By Bree Murphy
Kansas and Missouri are at different stages in building electric vehicle charging infrastructure, but both are relying on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to shape what comes next.
Federal funding through NEVI is helping states expand DC fast-charging along major corridors, improve rural access and support the growing shift toward electric transportation.
Through NEVI, up to 80% of project costs are federally funded, with a required 20% local match. All funded projects must support DC fast-charging infrastructure located along federally designated EV corridors.
Several interstate and highway corridors across Kansas and Missouri are designated or pending designation under the NEVI program, including:
| I-29 | n/a | Pending
Established from Kansas City to St. Joseph |
| I-35 | Pending | Pending
Established in Kansas City |
| I-44 | n/a | Pending |
| I-49 | n/a | Pending |
| I-55 | n/a | Pending
Established in Saint Louis area |
| I-70 | Pending
Established from Topeka through Kansas City |
Pending
Established in Kansas City and Saint Louis areas |
| I-135 | Pending | n/a |
| I-335 | Pending | n/a |
| U.S. 400 | Pending | n/a |
Kansas
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has received two rounds of NEVI funding to date. The first round provided $4.6 million to build six new charging stations in Emporia, Garden City, Cherokee, Fredonia, Belleville and Platte.
The second round of funding, announced in October 2024, will provide $6.8 million to build nine new stations in Augusta, Baxter Springs, Lebo, Dodge City, Kingman, Ottawa, Park City, Parsons and Severy.
Of the 15 total locations announced, Emporia is currently the only operational site. The remaining 14 locations have been conditionally awarded, meaning funding has been approved but construction cannot begin until contracts are finalized.
As of now, Kansas has 78 public DC fast-charging stations (345 ports) and 566 total public charging stations statewide (1,309 charging ports, including DC fast, Level 2, and Level 1 chargers).
Missouri
Missouri has not yet completed any NEVI-funded DC fast-charging stations. However, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has submitted and received approval for its FY 2026 NEVI Deployment Plan.
MoDOT’s goals include:
- Building a statewide EV charging network for residents and travelers
- Leveraging existing transportation and utility infrastructure
- Supporting consumer choice and existing EV planning efforts
- Ensuring adaptability to future market and technology changes
Proposed charging locations include Craig, Kansas City (two locations), Saint Robert, Lamar, Butler, Concordia and Saint Joseph.
Currently, Missouri has 211 public DC fast-charging stations (750 ports) and 1,333 total public charging stations (3,200 total charging ports statewide)
NEVI Program Status Nationwide
States are progressing through the NEVI program at varying stages:
| NEVI Program Status | States |
| FY26 Plan Pending Approval | Florida |
| FY26 Plan Approved | Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia |
| Solicitation Issued | Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Washington |
| Awards Announced | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Tennessee |
| Some Stations Operational | Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin |
| Fully Built Out | Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming |
