Florida Redirects $200M in EV Charger Funds to Build Air Taxi Landing Pads
Florida officials have decided to use nearly $200 million in federal funding originally allocated for electric vehicle charging stations to instead construct 32 landing pads for electric air taxis, citing sufficient private EV charging infrastructure.
Florida, which ranks second in the nation for electric vehicle ownership, has surprisingly chosen to repurpose a significant federal grant intended to expand EV charging infrastructure. According to a report from the Miami Herald, the Florida Department of Transportation will redirect approximately $200 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to build landing pads and charging stations for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), commonly known as air taxis.
The state was awarded the funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law but never spent it. Officials argued that private companies have already built a sufficient network of EV chargers, despite the fact that Florida has fewer chargers per vehicle than the national average. The NEVI program, under updated guidance from the Trump administration, permits states with "fully built out" EV charging corridors to reallocate the money toward other publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure.
Florida's plan includes 32 landing pads equipped with charging stations for eVTOLs, which typically carry four to five passengers. The state hopes these air taxis will help alleviate its notorious traffic congestion. However, the eVTOL market is still in its early stages, with many startups shifting focus to defense applications. Locations for the pads may include golf courses, luxury apartment buildings, and airports.
In contrast, other states like New York and North Carolina have used similar NEVI funds to install chargers in communities, particularly benefiting renters and homeowners without dedicated parking. Florida's decision marks a novel approach to tackling transportation challenges, betting on a technology that has yet to achieve mass adoption.
