California Opens Up $28 Million In Funding For EV Chargers

The state will cover up to 100% of eligible costs to install new public DC fast chargers, at up to $100,000 each.

Photo by: Alpitronic

By: Iulian Dnistran

Oct 9, at 7:46am ET

Comment

California is spending at least $28 million to install new DC fast chargers.
The state’s Fast Charge California Project is subsidizing up to $100,000 per charging port.
Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

California has kicked off another incentive round to install new public DC fast chargers for electric vehicles, and it’s offering up to $100,000 per charging port. The California Energy Commission’s Fast Charge California Project is offering at least $28 million as part of its second funding window, which runs through January 14, 2027.

The program is available statewide on a first-come, first-served basis, with projects located in disadvantaged and low-income communities being prioritized.

Incentives are capped at $55,000 per charging port for stalls that deliver between 150 kilowatts and 274.99 kilowatts, while ports that can deliver a minimum of 275 kW can receive a maximum of $100,000. The incentives cover the purchase and installation of eligible DC fast chargers, but only projects that are ready to build, including having an issued permit and final utility service design, will be approved.

Applicants must own the charging equipment, the chargers must be publicly available, and the sites must have a minimum of 50% CCS connectors. For this funding round, charging hubs, hotels, and business districts are no longer eligible. At the same time, eligible locations may include businesses, public facilities, high-traffic destinations, and sites along major travel routes.

“California needs reliable fast charging in communities across the state to support the growing number of electric vehicles on the road,” said Spencer Reeder, director of CEC’s Fuels and Transportation Division. “This next round of Fast Charge California Project funding will help move ready-to-build projects forward, expand access to public charging, and put state investments to work in communities that have historically had fewer charging options.”

The latest round of funding comes after the Fast Charge California Project’s 2026 round, which awarded $56.9 million in EV charging incentives, funding over 1,200 ready-to-build fast-charging ports.

What do you think?

View

Comments

A third funding window will run from February 24 through May 27, 2027, but incentives will be capped at $55,000 per charging port.

The funding campaign is part of the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), the largest EV charging incentive initiative in the United States. Since its introduction in 2017, the program has supported 10,200 charger installations across California.