Federal EV Charger Tax Credit Expires as Retailers Navigate Funding Options — OPIS

A federal tax credit that helped offset the cost of installing electric vehicle chargers expires Tuesday, eliminating a key financial incentive for retailers investing in charging infrastructure.

For commercial operators in low-income or non-urban census tracts, the provision offers a tax credit of up to 30% of project costs, capped at $100,000 per charging port. Homeowners are eligible for a 30% credit capped at $1,000.

Hardware must be fully operational by Tuesday to qualify.

The Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Property Credit was established in 2005 and expanded under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Its expiration marks the final rollback of federal EV incentives under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Last September, OBBBA eliminated tax credits for new, used and commercial EV purchases, weakening domestic vehicle sales. Cox Automotive reported U.S. new EV sales fell 27% year over year in the first quarter, with market share leveling off at 5.8%, down from a peak of 10.6% in the third quarter of 2025.

Meanwhile, public charging infrastructure continues to expand. According to Department of Energy data, the U.S. has added nearly 1,400 public fast-charging stations during the first half of 2026, bringing the current total to around 15,125.

While federal funding remains available through the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure highway program -- now in its final year of federal fund allocations -- projects face prolonged delays from utility grid connection backlogs.

While chains like Love's Travel Stops and Wawa are relying on NEVI's multi-year state grant cycles to finance corridor installations, Pilot Company is sharing construction costs through a joint venture with General Motors and EVgo.

Retailers including 7-Eleven, Circle K and BP Pulse are deploying their own capital to build out networks, focusing investments on busy urban and suburban properties.

This content was created by Oil Price Information Service, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. OPIS is run independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

Reporting by Allegra Fradkin, afradkin@opisnet.com; Editing by Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 30, 2026 09:55 ET (13:55 GMT)