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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIn 2023, EV-charger manufacturers warned that new domestic-content rules could slow production and raise costs. The rules did not require every charger sold in the United States to be American-made: they applied chiefly to equipment bought with covered federal funding, including many projects under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. A phased waiver initially emphasized U.S. final assembly, then added a 55% domestic component-cost test. As of August 18, 2026, FHWA had proposed raising that threshold as high as 100%, but that proposal was not yet a final requirement.
What prompted the 2023 warning?
The warning came as federal agencies implemented domestic-content requirements tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Build America, Buy America (BABA). On February 21, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a temporary waiver for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. It took effect March 23, 2023, giving manufacturers time to expand U.S. assembly and sourcing while federally supported charging projects moved forward. FHWA’s waiver and its implementation overview set out the transition.
The tension was practical: requiring more domestic production could make federally funded chargers eligible for purchase, but manufacturers first had to find suppliers, adapt production lines, and document where components were made. The original March 21, 2023 report described a risk of reduced production; it does not establish that U.S. charger output subsequently fell nationwide.
Which chargers were covered?
The Buy America requirements chiefly concerned EV chargers purchased with covered federal financial assistance for federal-aid highway projects, including NEVI-funded infrastructure. They did not automatically govern every private home charger, commercial charging installation, or privately financed project. The funding source and project rules matter, not simply whether a charger is sold in the United States.
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Equipment sourcing is only one part of a federally supported project. The NEVI standards also address matters such as installation, operation, maintenance, interoperability, network connectivity, and public information, including pricing and real-time charger availability. A compliant piece of hardware alone does not establish that an entire project meets its obligations.
How the phased requirements worked
The 2023 waiver created a transition by manufacturing date. The two phases used different domestic-content tests; the earlier phase did not require the later 55% component-cost threshold. Chargers with housings predominantly made of iron or steel had separate treatment throughout.
| Charger manufacturing date | Core waiver test | Installation timing | Housing treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| On or before June 30, 2024 | Final assembly in the United States | Installation had to begin by October 1, 2024, to use this phase | A housing predominantly made of iron or steel was outside the waiver and had to meet applicable Buy America rules |
| On or after July 1, 2024 | Final assembly in the United States and at least 55% of component cost manufactured in the United States | No equivalent October 1, 2024 deadline is stated for this phase in the waiver summary | A housing predominantly made of iron or steel remained subject to applicable Buy America rules |
The 55% test concerns the cost of components in the charger unit, not its physical weight, labor share, or a requirement that each component be 55% domestic. FHWA says a component may count as U.S.-manufactured even if more than 55% of its own subcomponents are not U.S.-made. Its EV-charger Buy America Q&A explains component treatment and compliance records.
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For procurement, “final assembly in the United States” and “55% of component cost manufactured in the United States” are separate tests. A marketing description such as “American-made” is not a substitute for identifying the model, manufacturing date, project funding, and applicable certification.
Why could compliance slow production?
Manufacturers faced several tasks at once: replacing or qualifying overseas suppliers, establishing U.S. assembly capacity, checking component costs against the domestic-content formula, and keeping records to support certifications. Iron- or steel-dominant housings added a separate sourcing constraint. Companies also had to manage inventories across the transition, as a charger’s manufacturing date could determine which phase applied.
- Supplier and factory changes: New suppliers require qualification, and new or converted U.S. production lines need tooling, labor, and engineering work.
- Cost and records: Manufacturers need reliable cost data and documentation of component origin, while purchasers must retain evidence sufficient to support compliance.
- Project coordination: Equipment delivery is only one schedule dependency; utility interconnection, permitting, site construction, state procurement, commissioning, and service arrangements can also affect deployment.
- Inventory and product planning: Separate federally eligible and other product lines may complicate production, sales, and spare-parts planning.
The EPA’s FY2023 Clean School Bus report said EPA and FHWA market research indicated that the U.S. Level 2 and DC-fast-charger industries might not immediately have enough capacity to meet project demand while also achieving full BABA compliance. That was an agency-identified capacity concern, not a measured nationwide production decline. EPA FY2023 Clean School Bus report
Could the rules increase charger prices?
The March 2023 account, citing Reuters, reported that shifting production from overseas to U.S. manufacturing could take roughly one to 1.5 years. It also reported that XCharge expected U.S. production changes could raise prices by as much as 30%. Those are attributed estimates, not verified industry-wide price increases or observed national outcomes. March 21, 2023 report
Domestic sourcing may add equipment costs, but charger hardware is only one component of a site’s budget. Electrical upgrades, trenching, permitting, utility work, construction, networking, and ongoing maintenance also contribute. The available evidence does not establish how much the sourcing rules changed total project costs across the country.
XCharge illustrates the possible shift toward localization
The 2023 report described XCharge as trying to accelerate a U.S. factory effort. In August 2023, XCharge North America announced a U.S. manufacturing facility in Texas. That sequence illustrates why the policy could create short-term adjustment pressure while encouraging companies to localize production.
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The cited information does not establish the facility’s precise production scope or whether it produced chargers qualifying for federally funded projects. One company’s announced move is not evidence of an industry-wide production trend.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed after the original transition?
The first-phase manufacturing window ended June 30, 2024; the 55% component-cost phase began July 1, 2024. The October 1, 2024 installation date applied to chargers relying on the earlier phase, rather than marking a blanket end to the EV-charger waiver. FHWA later issued a general manufactured-products rule in January 2025, while the EV-charger implementation framework remained a distinct policy reference. FHWA’s Buy America program page lists the relevant agency materials.
In February 2026, FHWA proposed modifying the EV-charger waiver to increase the domestic-component threshold from 55% to as much as 100%. As of August 18, 2026, the cited federal record described a proposal for comment, not an adopted 100% requirement. The existing framework and the proposal should not be conflated. See the 2026 proposed modification and DOT’s Made in America policy page.
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The evidence available does not demonstrate that the 2023 forecast produced a specific nationwide decline in charger output or a measurable national slowdown in deployments. It does show that federal agencies had identified a possible capacity gap, that the waiver set a staged compliance path, and that domestic-content policy remained under consideration in 2026.
What buyers should verify before ordering
States, site developers, fleet managers, and network operators purchasing for a federally funded project should confirm eligibility for the specific funding source and project, rather than relying on a brand-level claim. Request the following from the manufacturer or supplier:
- The exact charger model and its manufacturing date.
- The U.S. final-assembly location and a signed certification addressing the applicable requirement.
- The percentage of component cost manufactured in the United States for equipment subject to the 55% test, with supporting records available for audit.
- A declaration of whether the housing is predominantly iron or steel, and documentation addressing the applicable rule.
- Statements covering replacement parts or upgrades where relevant to the project.
- Delivery, commissioning, maintenance, and network-service commitments, plus confirmation that the project’s operational and interoperability requirements are met.
Confirm the manufacturing date and installation timing before relying on the earlier phase. A charger suitable for a privately funded installation may not qualify for a federally funded highway project, and compliance of the charger does not resolve the project’s separate installation and operating requirements.
What this means for drivers
A federal sourcing rule can affect the pace or cost of public charging projects that rely on covered funds, so local deployments may face delays or price pressure. It does not mean every consumer charger must be American-made, and the available evidence does not establish a nationwide drop in charger production. For drivers, the direct effect depends on whether a planned local project uses covered federal assistance and how its equipment procurement proceeds.
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