Florida wants to use EV charging fund to finance flying cars

Florida may soon take one of the most unconventional approaches yet to federal EV infrastructure funding. Rather than using nearly $200 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to expand public charging for passenger vehicles, the state wants to redirect the money toward infrastructure for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, otherwise known as flying cars.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation's 2025 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan, the agency believes the private sector has already accomplished the original goal of building out the state's highway charging network without relying on public funds. The document states, "The Florida Department of Transportation will not waste taxpayer dollars and spend it on everyday passenger vehicles. Instead, FDOT's proposal… takes an innovative and strategic approach to offer the greatest benefits to Floridians by supporting a new emerging mode of transportation."

The revised strategy calls for building an "Aerial Highway Network" supported by charging, takeoff, and landing facilities for battery-powered eVTOL aircraft. FDOT estimates each site will cost roughly $5.6 million and plans to fund 32 locations through fiscal year 2026. The state also proposes covering the required 20 percent funding match rather than relying on private partners, an approach that differs from how most states have handled NEVI grants.

Not everyone agrees with the shift. Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy criticized the proposal, telling the Miami Herald, "Money is being hijacked from what would have benefited a large population to go to the oligarch, ultra-wealthy for these emergent technologies."

Ryan McKinnon, spokesperson for the Charge Ahead Partnership, also questioned the move. "Instead, let's support the entrepreneurs who are building businesses that serve all Floridians, not just those who can afford to ride in futuristic aircraft," he said.

FDOT argues Florida's electgric vehicle charging market has matured rapidly, noting that public charging ports have more than doubled in the past four years and that the state's network continues to expand through private investment. The department also says Advanced Air Mobility represents the next step in relieving congestion while improving connectivity between major metropolitan areas.

The proposal follows President Donald Trump's executive order establishing a federal pilot program for flying cars, with Florida selected as one of eight participating state transportation agencies. Whether federal officials ultimately approve redirecting NEVI dollars toward aerial mobility infrastructure remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the state's ambitious transportation vision.