Among all the states in the southeastern United States (including the Sunshine State, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia), Florida stands out as a leader in electric vehicles: in 2025, it is the only state in the Southeast with a percentage of electric vehicles on its roads (10.9%) higher than the US national average (9.5%).
To support this movement, in January 2025 Florida received a promise of $37 million in federal funds from the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program, itself part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), signed in 2021 during the Biden presidency. For the moment, these subsidies are frozen by the Trump administration. Let’s hope the funds will be available soon, as Broward Metropolitan Planning was set to receive $18 million to install 339 electric charging stations.
According to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, in the first half of 2025, electric vehicle sales in Florida were approximately 73,000, placing Florida at the top of the Southeast states and 13th in the country, with an impressive annual growth rate of 42%. More than half of the sales are Teslas (particularly the Model Y), followed by General Motors with the Chevrolet Equinox. Far behind, Volkswagen, Stellantis, BMW, Ford, and Hyundai share the rest, along with other lesser-known brands.
Confirmation of Volkswagen funds for electric vehicles
In 2016, as we remember, accused of cheating on carbon emission tests for 2-0 diesel vehicles, Volkswagen agreed to a settlement for nearly $15 billion in damages, including $4.7 billion to the U.S. federal government and the rest to consumers. Florida recovered $166 million of the Volkswagen funds, earmarked for environmental mitigation and investments in zero-emission vehicle technologies.
Much of the projects focused on the development of electric buses. Nearly 70% of the funds were used to deploy electric school buses and urban transit buses. Eight percent was allocated to electric charging station infrastructure. Today, $48 million remains available.
The good news is that, contrary to what was initially announced and following public pressure, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has confirmed that fleets of electric trucks and vehicles will now be eligible for Volkswagen funds. Low-emission vehicles using “new diesel,” compressed natural gas, and propane are also included.
Stan Cross, director of electric transportation for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, points out: “Only electric vehicles completely eliminate tailpipe emissions. All other alternative fuels continue to pollute. Electric vehicles are also the most affordable in the long term, as electricity is the cheapest transportation fuel and EVs have the lowest maintenance costs.”
According to FDEP, private or public operators of vehicles used for community services, disaster management, and emergency response will be the priority beneficiaries of the grants.
As of October 2025, Florida has more than 4,000 electric charging stations, including 42 projects funded by Volkswagen funds.
