NewsWLRN — South Florida NPR (Environment)October 30, 2026Miami-Dade County
Florida softens language on spending federal electric vehicle funds for flying cars
Photo: WLRN — South Florida NPR (Environment)
The Florida Department of Transportation issued a report that backs off plans to spend nearly $200 million in federal electric vehicle charging funds exclusively on flying cars, stating the money will primarily serve regular surface passenger vehicles while leaving room for aviation use. The updated September report follows delayed deployment of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure cash, which previously resulted in a $45 million federal clawback and proposals to bypass everyday cars for advanced air mobility projects.
Read the full story at WLRN — South Florida NPR (Environment)Why It Matters
Florida residents and businesses awaiting public electric vehicle charging infrastructure face uncertainty as the state plans to spend its remaining $197 million in federal funds before 2028 without specifying charger locations or quantities.
Key Facts
- The Florida Department of Transportation issued a September 2026 report softening its language regarding funding electric helicopter-style vehicles with federal money.
- Florida intends to spend its remaining $197 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure cash primarily on surface passenger vehicles like cars and trucks.
- The report's language leaves the door open to support aviation users like electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft where co-location is feasible.
- The federal government previously clawed back about $45 million after Florida sat on the EV charger funds for an extended period.
- The updated report states Florida plans to spend all of its remaining federal cash quickly, prior to 2028.
- Unlike previous drafts, the new report lacks specific details on how many chargers will be installed or where they will be located.
- Combination chargers capable of powering both regular vehicles and flying cars have already been installed at airports in Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Okaloosa County.
- Two Florida counties currently have zero electric vehicle chargers, and two other counties have only one charger each according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Florida previously argued in a 2025 draft report that private markets were building enough EV chargers and that state subsidies for everyday passenger vehicles were unnecessary, favoring advanced air mobility instead.
- Florida established the nation's first aerial testing site at its SunTrax facility in Central Florida and projects up to 1.4 million advanced air mobility passenger trips by 2027.
Who's Mentioned
locationTallahassee“City where a combination charger has been installed at an airport.”OrganizationCharge Ahead partnership“Group of gas stations and convenience stores seeking to add EV chargers.”PersonAli DySard“Florida Manager for the Environmental Defense Fund.”OrganizationOrlando Sentinel“Partner newsroom in the Florida Climate Reporting Network.”locationNorth Carolina“State used as an example for using federal cash to build public chargers in apar”OrganizationWLRN Public Media“Partner newsroom in the Florida Climate Reporting Network.”OrganizationThe Palm Beach Post“Partner newsroom in the Florida Climate Reporting Network.”OrganizationFederal Highway Administration“Federal body responsible for approving state transportation spending plans.”OrganizationSunTrax“Central Florida facility where the nation's first aerial testing site was built.”PersonRyan McKinnon“Spokesperson for the Charge Ahead partnership.”locationGainesville“City where a combination charger has been installed at an airport.”OrganizationTampa Bay Times“News publication.”OrganizationFlorida Department of Transportation“State agency that authored the report and oversees the federal transportation fu”locationOkaloosa County“County in the Panhandle where a combination charger has been installed at an air”OrganizationMiami Herald“News organization that obtained the state documents.”OrganizationBrightline“Passenger rail service used for ridership comparison.”PersonDonald Trump“US President whose administration oversaw the certification and release of the f”PersonDory Larsen“Senior electric transportation program manager for Southern Alliance for Clean E”OrganizationEnvironmental Defense Fund“Advocacy group praising the change in state strategy.”OrganizationSun-Sentinel“Partner newsroom in the Florida Climate Reporting Network.”OrganizationNational Electric Vehicle Infrastructure“Federal program providing the $197 million in funding.”PersonStephen Smith“Executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.”OrganizationSouthern Alliance for Clean Energy“Clean energy advocacy organization.”