TL;DRFlorida plans to redirect $198 million in federal EV charger funds to build 32 eVTOL vertiports instead of public charging stations
Florida received $198 million from the federal government to build public fast chargers for electric vehicles. Instead, the state wants to spend it on landing pads for electric air taxis that have not yet received FAA certification for commercial service. The plan, uncovered by a Miami Herald investigation, would redirect the state’s entire allocation under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure programme to build 32 eVTOL vertiports.
The Florida Department of Transportation is calling the project an “Aerial Highway Network,” framing it as a complement to the state’s existing transport system. Each vertiport would cost roughly six million dollars, and the proposed locations include luxury apartment buildings, golf courses, military bases, and airports. The agency says the network could ease congestion and improve connectivity, though eVTOLs have not carried a single paying passenger anywhere in the United States.
FDOT’s justification is that the private sector has already built out much of Florida’s fast-charging network. The agency noted in planning documents that the number of EV charging ports in the state has doubled over the past four years, and that Florida has 452 fast-charging stations. Tesla, Electrify America, ChargePoint, and newer entrants like Ionna and Walmart have done most of the building.
