Florida Redirects $200M from EV Chargers to Flying Car Network

Florida plans to redirect nearly $200 million in federal EV charging funds toward building an "Aerial Highway Network" for flying cars, prioritizing futuristic eVTOL infrastructure over traditional electric vehicle chargers. The Florida Department of Transportation argues the private market already serves "everyday vehicles," so it will fund 32 take-off, landing, and charging pads at airports, luxury apartments, golf courses, and military bases, costing about $5.6 million each. The state also appears willing to cover the required 20% matching share itself, unlike other states that rely on private companies. Florida has pursued air taxis since 2021, building a testing site at its SunTrax facility, and some leaders have labeled EV charging "woke" spending. The state has the second-highest number of EVs nationally but lags on chargers per vehicle, and the plan emerged only after a Miami Herald records request.