#42: CBRE and EVPassport partner on EV charging

CBRE and EVPassport building 3,600 chargers, GSA removing chargers from federal buildings, and we profile Secretary Doug Burgum and Senator John Barrasso

Author

Steve Taylor
March 01, 2025

Together with

Crafting winning policy and legislative strategies through bipartisan advocacy since 2007 - click to connect 

The 3 big stories:

  • CBRE partners with EVPassport to build 3,600 chargers.

  • GSA to shut down and remove chargers from federal buildings.

  • How Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Senator John Barrasso will shape the future of the EV industry.

Plus, featured jobs and news.

Enjoy,

–Steve

Webinar: The Future of EV Charging in the Multi-family Market

On Tuesday, March 4, EVPowerInsights and Ohm Analytics will host a webinar with industry leaders to discuss the role of EV charging at multi-family properties. Register here.

Current EVents

EV Industry Updates

CBRE and EVPassport have announced a major partnership to accelerate EV charging deployment across North America.

The partnership will support the installation of over 3,600 EV chargers at more than 600 strategic sites throughout the United States, with a primary focus on multifamily and hospitality properties.

This collaboration comes as demand for charging infrastructure continues to grow among commercial property stakeholders. 

According to CBRE's 2024 Occupier Sentiment Survey, 54% of respondents identified EV charging as a key priority in their building selection decisions.

EVPassport will improve CBRE's existing portfolio of charging solutions through its infrastructure engagement platform. 

The company offers flexible deployment options, including an infrastructure-as-a-service model or a traditional capital expense partnership.

This isn't CBRE's first major charging partnership. Last May, the firm selected EV+ to install chargers at 10,000 U.S. commercial properties.

Steve's Take

The CBRE-EVPassport partnership highlights the important role commercial real estate will play in scaling charging infrastructure deployment.

As federal support wanes, these commercial partnerships will likely become primary drivers of infrastructure growth in the near term.

With CBRE managing vast commercial properties worldwide, its influence on EV charging accessibility—particularly in multifamily and hospitality sectors—will be significant.

Looking ahead, I expect we'll continue to see more commercial real estate firms following CBRE's lead, integrating EV charging as a standard amenity rather than a premium feature. 

Given the high concentration of EVs in urban and suburban areas, this shift will provide much-needed charging access where it’s most essential.

–Steve

Click here to unlock exclusive monthly deep dives, policy briefings, and quarterly industry reports

Power and Policy

The General Services Administration (GSA) plans to shut down all of its electric vehicle charging stations nationwide after classifying them as "not mission critical."

The agency currently operates several hundred charging stations. Those amount to around 8,000 plugs for both government vehicles and federal employees' personal use.

Internal guidance instructing federal workers to begin deactivating chargers is still pending, though some regional offices have already been directed to take their stations offline.

At the GSA's Denver office, employees were informed that chargers at four federally owned buildings would be deactivated next week.

The GSA is also preparing to offload EVs purchased during the Biden administration, though it remains unclear whether these vehicles will be sold or placed in storage.

Under the previous administration, the GSA was charged with implementing Biden's plan to transition the federal government's 650,000-vehicle fleet to electric models. 

The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $975M to upgrade federal buildings with sustainable technologies, including EV chargers.

As of March 2024, the GSA had ordered over 58,000 EVs and begun installing more than 25,000 charging ports to supplement the 8,000 already in use across the government.

Rob's Take

While previous moves by the Trump Administration targeted funding for future projects, this takes the unprecedented step of decommissioning existing, functional infrastructure.

This is yet another blow to the EV industry, coming on the heels of halting the $5B NEVI program. It will certainly impact the companies contracted to provide the remaining chargers. 

The implications for the automotive industry could be significant as well, with the federal government potentially flooding the used EV market with thousands of EVs.

Removing these chargers sends a clear message that the federal government is out of the EV business. They’ll even waste existing infrastructure to prove it, as this move could cost $1B.

–Rob 

People and Positions

Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum

  • Former two-term Republican governor of North Dakota, a major oil-producing state

  • Software industry entrepreneur who built and sold a successful tech company

  • Graduated from North Dakota State University and received an MBA from Stanford

  • Has personal ties to the oil industry, including family land leased to Continental Resources

  • Briefly ran for president in 2023 before dropping out and endorsing Trump

However, in an unprecedented expansion of the Interior Secretary's role, Trump has appointed Burgum to also chair the White House’s new National Energy Dominance Council. 

He will be the administration's point person for coordinating energy policy across all federal agencies. 

This council will have a mandate to boost fossil fuel production while rolling back environmental regulations. 

Burgum will also have a seat on the National Security Council, underscoring the role of energy in foreign policy.

Burgum has expressed skepticism about the reliability of renewable energy sources, arguing that the U.S. needs more "baseload" power from sources like coal and nuclear.

Rob's Take

Unlike some cabinet picks who merely align ideologically with Trump's energy dominance vision, Burgum also ostensibly brings practical experience with the regulatory levers that impact energy development.

His history with EVs is telling—initially dismissing the technology outright in North Dakota's cold climate, then reluctantly supporting infrastructure studies only after modifications. 

I do not expect him to be an advocate for the EV industry. 

We may also see a deliberate reorientation of permitted uses for federal lands, permit streamlining that favors fossil fuel projects, and regulatory interpretations that subtly disadvantage EV adoption.

–Rob 

Senator John Barrasso

Senator John Barrasso serves as Senate Majority Whip—the second-highest leadership position in the U.S. Senate. He was also the former Ranking Member on the Senate Energy Committee.  His background includes:

  • Medical career as an orthopedic surgeon before entering politics

  • Appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2007, winning subsequent elections

  • Previously served as Republican Conference Chair (2019-2025)

  • Became Majority Whip in January 2025

In his Whip role, Barrasso counts votes, communicates party positions, and builds support for the Republican legislative agenda—crucial in today's narrow Senate majority.

This legislation would end the $7,500 EV tax credit, eliminate the $4,000 used EV incentive, and remove charging infrastructure tax benefits just 30 days after enactment.

In 2022, Barrasso characterized the Biden administration's EV push as reflecting a "smug superiority" and being disconnected from average Americans' concerns.

Rob's Take

Barrasso's elevation to Majority Whip significantly amplifies his influence over EV policy. His documented opposition to EV incentives now combines with procedural power to advance legislation curtailing federal EV support.

Representing Wyoming, the nation's largest coal producer, Barrasso has consistently prioritized fossil fuel interests. His ELITE Vehicles Act demonstrates that EVs remain a high-priority target in his legislative agenda. 

–Rob 

Featured Jobs

You can find more EV industry jobs here.

Sponsor this newsletter

Want to reach 2,656 of the most influential executives, policy professionals, founders, and investors in the EV charging space? Hit reply to join our sponsor waitlist.

Share your feedback 

Hit reply to this email and let us know what you enjoyed or what you’d like to see more of. We read all of your emails and comments.

Connect with us

Follow EVPowerInsights on LinkedIn.

See you next time!
⚡️Steve and Rob

Have friends or colleagues interested in the evolution of America’s EV charging infrastructure? Hit the share button below! If you were forwarded this, you can subscribe here.