Florida proposes diverting millions for 'cleaner technology' from electric vehicles

Instead, the state wants to use the money to fuel freight trucks with alternative energy sources, like “new diesel” and compressed natural gas.

Nearly $41 million Florida still has left over from a federal mitigation fund to “replace diesel emission sources with cleaner technology” won’t be used for any more electric bus or electric vehicle charging projects, according to a draft proposal from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Instead, the agency’s pitch is for Florida to use the money to fuel freight trucks with alternative energy sources, like “new diesel” and compressed natural gas.

The draft proposal seeks to shift plans for Florida’s remaining funds from civil settlements reached in 2016 and 2017 between Volkswagen and the Environmental Protection Agency, following the car company’s alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act. Volkswagen sold nearly 600,000 diesel motor vehicles with devices designed to cheat federal emissions tests for nitrogen oxides, or NOx, according to the settlement.

To offset excess nitrogen oxide emissions from those vehicles with trick “defeat devices,” Volkswagen paid nearly $3 billion into a mitigation trust fund for projects to “replace diesel emission sources with cleaner technology.” States received payouts from that mitigation fund based on how many “trick” vehicles were registered in each state, according to the EPA.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2025/09/28/florida-proposes-diverting-millions-cleaner-technology-electric-vehicles/

I really don't get all the Republican hate against EVs.