Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Make-Ready Requirements
RuleBeginning Jan. 1, 2024, all new parking lots—and existing lots that add 50% or more spaces—must designate parking spaces for EVs.
EV charging installation in Rhode Island
We are still looking for an installer in Rhode Island. Send the property anyway. You'll hear back either way, and we'll tell you straight where it stands rather than sitting on it.
Still looking here
Tell us about your property
The public record
What Rhode Island already has.
These are counts of chargers that exist today, from the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, pulled 2026-09-01. Nobody is projecting anything here.
375Charging locations
1,026Ports
795Level 2 ports
150DC fast ports
Property types
The kinds of places that have them
| Network | Locations |
|---|---|
| ChargePoint Network | 289 |
| AMPUP | 12 |
| Tesla | 7 |
| SHELL_RECHARGE | 7 |
| Blink Network | 6 |
| Tesla Destination | 5 |
| Not on a network | 35 |
| Year | Opened |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 87 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2023 | 33 |
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 | 19 |
Only some locations have an open date on file, so treat the year counts as a floor and not a total.
Programs
Money and rules in Rhode Island.
Summarized from the Department of Energy's Laws and Incentives record, pulled 2026-09-10, with a link to the original beside each one. Programs change and most of them run out of money, so check the current terms with whoever runs it before you count on it.
Funding
The public record shows no state-level charging funding program in Rhode Island right now. Federal programs below may still apply, and utilities run programs that are not always listed federally.
Rules that affect an installation
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Parking Restriction
ContextNo person can stop, stand, or park a vehicle in a parking space where there is an EV charger and signage indicating that parking is for EV charging only, unless the vehicle is connected to the charging equipment. Violations will be subject to a fine of $100.
AFDC entry 11867
AFDC updated 10/6/2017Senate Bill 77, 2017Rhode Island General Laws 31-21-18Rhode Island General Laws 31-41.1-4
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station on State Property Fee
ContextEffective Jan. 1, 2025, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER) must set fees for cost recovery for EV charging stations on state property and post proposed fees online for a public comment period.
Residential Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Standard
ContextBeginning Jan. 1, 2023, EV chargers sold, leased, or rented in Rhode Island must be ENERGY STAR® certified. For more information, see the ENERGY STAR EV Chargers website. (Reference General Law 39-27.1-5)
AFDC entry 14376
General Law 39-27.1-5
Federal programs
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants
FundingThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program (CFI Program) offers funding to deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure.
AFDC entry 12732
U.S. Department of TransportationAFDC updated 3/29/2023Public Law 117-5823 U.S. Code 151
Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Grants
FundingThe U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technology Office (VTO) offers grants of up to $36 million for the design, development, and demonstration of MHD EV charging infrastructure through the SuperTruck Charge program.
Electric Vehicle Charging on Federal Property
ContextThe U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) or any federal agency may install electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for federal employees and others authorized to park at federal facilities to charge their privately owned vehicles.
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program
FundingThe CMAQ Program provides funding to state departments of transportation (DOTs), local governments, and transit agencies for projects and programs that help meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act by reducing mobile source emissions and regional congestion on transportation networks.
AFDC entry 284
U.S. Department of TransportationAFDC updated 11/29/2021Public Law 117-58Public Law 112-14123 U.S. Code 149 and 151
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Grants and Loan Guarantees
FundingThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements, including EV charging stations.
National Alternative Fuels Corridors
FundingThe U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) designates a national network of electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along national highway system corridors.
AFDC entry 11675
U.S. Department of TransportationAFDC updated 5/22/2023Public Law 114-94Public Law 117-5823 U.S. Code 151
Other Rhode Island EV programs on the public record
These are about vehicles rather than chargers. Listed so you know they exist, each one linking to its AFDC entry.
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Acquisition Requirements Laws and Regulations
- Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Procurement Study Laws and Regulations
- Clean Diesel Grant State Incentives
- Electric Drive Vehicle License Plates Laws and Regulations
- Electric Transit Bus Pilot and Replacement Program Laws and Regulations
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Development Support Laws and Regulations
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Registration Fee Laws and Regulations
- Electric Vehicle Emissions Inspection Exemption State Incentives
- Fleet Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebates State Incentives
- Low-Speed Vehicle Access to Roadways Laws and Regulations
- Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Requirement Laws and Regulations
- Public Utility Definition Laws and Regulations
- Rhode Island's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning State Incentives
- State Agency Coordination to Address Climate Change Laws and Regulations
Cities
18 cities in Rhode Island.
A city gets its own page once there is enough on the public record to be worth reading.
Next step
Charging at your Rhode Island property.
We are still looking for an installer in Rhode Island. Send the property anyway. You'll hear back either way, and we'll tell you straight where it stands rather than sitting on it.