Arizona’s First NEVI Fast Chargers Are Finally Open
Three stations in Tucson, Green Valley, and Wellton mark the start of a $76.5 million federal rollout.
Arizona’s first three National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funded DC fast-charging stations are now online, providing EV drivers with new charging options along Interstate 10, Interstate 19, and Interstate 8.
What Happened
The newly operational sites are located in Tucson, Green Valley, and Wellton. The Tucson station is a Tesla Supercharger with 325 kW capacity located at Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q near I-10 and Kino Parkway. In Green Valley, a Francis station with 400 kW capacity is situated at the Verde Valley Center off I-19. The Wellton site is another 325 kW Tesla Supercharger at a Chevron station near I-8 and Avenue 29 E. These locations represent the first operating sites in Arizona’s plan to utilize a portion of its $76.5 million in federal funding to construct as many as 79 stations statewide.
Why It Matters
The opening of these stations follows a multi-year delay driven by both state procurement timelines and federal policy shifts. Although the NEVI program was established by the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, Arizona did not begin soliciting bids for its first round of stations until January 2024, with awards issued in August 2024. Construction was initially expected to begin shortly after contracts were signed, but the Trump administration’s February 2025 suspension of approved NEVI plans and blocking of new funding commitments disrupted the process. Consequently, Arizona canceled a solicitation for 35 prospective locations after losing access to approximately $48.1 million in uncommitted funding. A federal judge later ruled in January 2026 that the funding had been unlawfully withheld, allowing the current sites to proceed. Looking ahead, two additional stations are expected to open in Seligman and Holbrook along I-40 before the end of 2026, while ADOT is seeking bids for 49 further locations with proposals due in January 2027.
The Bottom Line
Arizona has activated its first three NEVI fast-charging stations after delays caused by lengthy procurement and federal funding freezes, with further expansion planned for late 2026 and beyond.
