Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment in the Mid-Atlantic Region: Comparative Evolution of NEVI Implementation from 2022 to 2026

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program is a major federal initiative to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and support transportation electrification in the United States. This study examines the evolution of NEVI implementation across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania between 2022 and 2026. A qualitative comparative longitudinal approach was used to analyze 23 official documents, including NEVI deployment plans, annual implementation updates, Federal Highway Administration guidance, and Joint Office of Energy and Transportation resources. The findings show that implementation evolved beyond compliance with the Alternative Fuel Corridor toward broader transportation electrification, characterized by adaptive governance, infrastructure scalability, and operational resilience. New York demonstrated the most advanced implementation through extensive interagency coordination, infrastructure integration, and long-term planning. New Jersey emphasized metropolitan charging accessibility, adaptive planning, and alignment with statewide zero-emission vehicle objectives. Pennsylvania followed a more gradual implementation trajectory shaped by phased deployment, regional accessibility priorities, and procurement-related challenges. The study demonstrates that implementation trajectories differed despite a common federal framework and contributes to the literature by providing a comparative longitudinal perspective on how governance and institutional adaptation influence large-scale EV infrastructure deployment.