Tritium DCFC, a high-speed electric vehicle charger manufacturer, announced on Tuesday its first federal-funded order from Hawaii. This marks the initial implementation of the U.S. government’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI).

The five-year program, aimed at encouraging electric vehicle use, plans to allocate $5 billion to states for deploying 500,000 chargers along highways and interstates.

Hawaii secured $2.6 million in the first round of funding in September, using it to purchase 32 150-kilowatt Tritium chargers and 16 power units.

“These fast chargers are expected to be among the first funded and installed under the NEVI program,” Tritium, based in Brisbane, Australia, declared in a statement.

In total, Hawaii is projected to receive over $17.6 million from the NEVI initiative. The funds have been instrumental to President Joe Biden’s strategies for addressing climate change and job creation locally. To qualify, companies must incorporate the U.S. standard Combined Charging System (CCS) into their chargers.

“Hawai’i is committed to leading the nation in our e-mobility transition and grateful for Tritium’s partnership in this effort,” said Hawai’i Department of Transportation Director Edwin Sniffen. “We’re confident that Tritium’s chargers will provide the fast and reliable service Hawai’i needs as we bolster our EV infrastructure statewide.”

However, this comes as states like Texas and Washington have expressed intentions to require the North American Charging Standard (NACS) used by Tesla, alongside CCS.

This decision, prompted by major automakers adopting the technology, has led to resistance from some charging companies. They argue that more time is needed to standardize, test, and verify the safety and interoperability of Tesla connectors.

“The State of Hawai’i has long been dependent on petroleum for their energy supply, but with this new influx of DC fast-charging infrastructure, we are paving the way for a significant shift in their energy mix and a substantial leap towards greater energy independence,” said Mike Calise, Tritium’s President of the Americas. “NEVI has created an unprecedented opportunity for states across America to revolutionize their EV charging infrastructure. By creating more equitable access to fast chargers, we are not only shaping a sustainable and resilient future for American communities, but also driving a nationwide transformation towards clean transportation.”

Nevertheless, Tritium, planning to include NACS connectors in their chargers by late 2023 or early 2024, supported the move. This was confirmed in a letter Tritium sent to Texas on Monday, according to Reuters.

This development underscores the evolving landscape of electric vehicle infrastructure and the ongoing commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.

Photo courtesy of Tritium.