S. 4148 – EV GRID Act | Legislate.dev

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 11:10 AM UTC

The EV GRID Act directs the Department of Energy to assess whether the nation’s electric grid can support the growing demand from new electric‑vehicle charging stations and to develop a plan for addressing any shortfalls. It focuses on meeting the President’s 2030 greenhouse‑gas‑reduction target and identifies where additional grid investment is most needed. The findings and recommendations are to be shared with Congress.

Key Provisions

Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the Energy Secretary must publish a study on whether the U.S. electric grid can handle the electricity demand from new electric‑vehicle charging stations installed after that date.
The study must estimate the growth in EV use needed to meet the President’s 2030 greenhouse‑gas‑reduction goal, the extra generation, transmission, and distribution capacity required, and how that demand will differ by region, population density, vehicle‑grid interaction, and time of day.
The study must also point out geographic areas that will need the most investment to support new charging infrastructure.
Within 90 days after the study is released, the Secretary must create a plan—working with DOE’s grid and vehicle‑technology offices—on how the department can help the grid meet the added demand and must recommend any needed legislation to Congress.
The bill authorizes $4 million for FY 2023 to fund these activities.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2360)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 5, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 5, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2360)

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 5, 2022

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 4148 on the floor

3 Democrats

Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · May 5, 2022

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the ``Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act,'' which I introduced today. During National Small Business Week, we are celebrating the resiliency of our…

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the ``Encouraging Small Business Innovation Act,'' which I introduced today.

During National Small Business Week, we are celebrating the resiliency of our Nation's entrepreneurs who are leading our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

To promote a strong recovery for the 32.5 million small businesses across the country, Congress should bolster Federal programs that support these entrepreneurs and innovators.

For more than 40 years, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs have spurred innovation, job creation, and economic growth.

These programs have generated breakthroughs in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, defense, energy, healthcare, and transportation.

Today, the Small Business Administration and 11 participating Federal Agencies leverage the SBIR and STTR Programs to help small innovative firms explore their potential and increase the commercialization of innovations arising out of Federal research and development.

While these critical programs have invested more than $40 billion in small businesses, many firms, especially those that are minority- or women-owned, still face considerable barriers to participation.

As we look to spur innovation and drive small business growth, Congress should improve the diversity of these programs, enhance access to capital, and expand the eligible uses of funds to better support the needs of U.S. small businesses.

That is why I am proud to introduce this bill to increase the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR Programs by improving diversity, enhancing access to capital, and expanding the eligible uses of funds.

This bill would direct participating Federal Agencies to use a portion of their SBIR allocation to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to underserved populations and states.

It would also allow Small Business Investment Companies to participate as investors in SBIR and STTR projects and permanently add testing and evaluation activities permanently as an eligible expense, which can be resource-intensive for small firms, across all relevant agencies.

Additionally, this bill would require participating Federal Agencies to conduct a joint annual meeting to share best practices for improving data collection and streamlining processes across the programs.

I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill to improve the effectiveness of the SBIR and STTR Programs.

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · May 5, 2022

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Electric Vehicle Grid, Improvement, and Development Act, which would take important steps to prepare our electric grid for the deployment of the electric…

Sen. Jack ReedD-RI · May 5, 2022

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Electric Vehicle Grid, Improvement, and Development Act, which would take important steps to prepare our electric grid for the deployment of the electric…

Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · May 5, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 5, 2022

II

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4148

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 5, 2022

Mr. Reed introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Energy to complete and publish a study and develop a plan relating to the ability of the electric system to meet the electricity demand of new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Electric Vehicle Grid Readiness, Improvement, and Development Act or the EV GRID Act.

2.

Study and plan relating to the ability of the electric system to meet the electricity demand of new electric vehicle charging infrastructure

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

The term electric vehicle charging infrastructure means the charging infrastructure necessary to support light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty on-road electric vehicles, including charging infrastructure that is located at a workplace, recreational destination, vehicle corridor, home, or depot.

(2)

President’s greenhouse gas reduction target

The term President’s greenhouse gas reduction target means the target, established by the President, of reducing greenhouse gas pollution by 50 to 52 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

(4)

Study

The term Study means the study completed and published under subsection (b)(1).

(b)

Study

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete, and publish on the website of the Department of Energy, a study that assesses the ability of the electric system to meet the electricity demand of electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is installed on or after that date of enactment.

(2)

Requirements

The Study shall—

(A)

include an estimate of—

(i)

the growth in the use of electric vehicles that is necessary to meet the President’s greenhouse gas reduction target;

(ii)

the additional electric generation, transmission, and distribution capacity that will need to be added to the electric system to meet the electricity demand of electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is installed on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(iii)

how the electricity demand described in clause (ii) will vary by—

(I)

geography;

(II)

population density;

(III)

vehicle-grid interaction scenario; and

(IV)

time of day at which the electric vehicle charging infrastructure is used; and

(B)

identify geographic areas in which greater investment in the electric system is necessary to meet the electricity demand of electric vehicle charging infrastructure installed on or after the date of enactment of this Act in those geographic areas.

(c)

Plan and recommendations

Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Study is published under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary, in coordination with the Building a Better Grid Initiative of the Office of Electricity and the Vehicle Technologies Office of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, shall—

(1)

develop a plan, based on the Study, for how the Department of Energy may assist the electric system with meeting the increase in the demand for electricity estimated in the Study; and

(2)

provide to Congress recommendations for legislation that would support the Department of Energy in assisting the electric system as described in paragraph (1).

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.