California awards $32 million in federal funding to deploy more than 450 fast chargers along highways and interstates

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What you need to know: California has awarded more than $32 million in federal funds for electric vehicle charging projects along the state’s busiest transportation corridors, expanding the nation’s largest electric vehicle charging network and continuing the state’s commitment to building a bigger and better charging network.

SACRAMENTO – The California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) today took a major step in the rapid deployment of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by awarding more than $32 million in federal funds to install, operate and maintain 458 direct current fast chargers (DCFC) along highways and interstates across the state.

The money comes from the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula (NEVI) program, part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Biden signed into law in November 2021. California expects to receive a total of $384 million for the program over the next several years.

“California continues to be a leader in the sustainable revolution with this significant investment to install more than 500 electric vehicle chargers with $32 million in federal NEVI funding,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Christine White. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments, California is helping lead the nation in deploying clean energy infrastructure, expanding access to electric vehicle charging, and achieving our carbon reduction goals.”

Including projects expected to be approved before the end of the year, CEC’s proposed awards total $37.7 million, providing an additional $53.2 million in private matching funds—nearly three times the minimum required by the NEVI program. These awards will result in the deployment of more than 500 new charging ports across 70 sites, an 85 percent increase over the number of charging ports originally projected from the state’s first NEVI order, and nearly doubling the stations required under federal standards.

“California is building a transportation network for the 21st century, and this federal funding helps support that commitment,” said Tony Tavares, director of the California Department of Transportation. “Increasing access to electric vehicle charging stations will be a major boost to achieving the state’s climate action goals.”

“We want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for its commitment to eliminating harmful emissions not only in California but across the country,” said Clean Power Commission Commissioner Patty Monahan. “With this round of awards, the state has exceeded federal requirements for private investment by nearly three times, significantly increasing the number of chargers funded for every federal dollar. This is further evidence that California is fully committed to zero-emission transportation.”

More reliable and accessible shipping

California is working harder than ever to improve the experience for electric vehicle drivers in the Golden State. Programs like NEVI and the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program are helping create strong incentives for EV providers to build charging infrastructure across California.

Nine projects received $32,722,295 in the first round of NEVI funding at the CEC’s business meeting on September 11. Approximately $5 million more is expected to be approved before the end of the year.

Approved projects include:

NEVI funds should initially be used in federally designated alternative fuel corridors.

You can view a map of California’s alternative fuel corridors here . Each NEVI-funded DCFC station will have at least four 150 kilowatt (kW) shared charging system connectors and a total capacity of at least 600 kW. Stations will be located no closer than 50 miles along interstates and freeways and no closer than one mile from a freeway or freeway exit. States must ensure equity, with at least 40 percent of NEVI benefits going to underserved, low-income, rural, and tribal communities.

Caltrans is the lead agency designated for the NEVI program, and CEC is the state’s designated energy partner to manage the funds. Caltrans and CEC collaborated to create the California Deployment Plan for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which details how California plans to allocate its $384 million share of federal NEVI funds to build a network of modern, high-power DCFC power plants along federally designated alternative fuel corridors throughout California.

California’s Zero Emission Vehicle Record

California’s record on zero-emission electric vehicles speaks for itself. Since Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2020 executive order calling for all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035, zero-emission electric vehicle sales have skyrocketed.

25.7 percent of all new vehicles sold in California in the second quarter of 2024 were zero-emission electric vehicles, according to the CEC 118,181 zero-emission electric vehicle sales in the second quarter of 2024, at a rate of 1,300 sales per day 1,996,931 total zero-emission electric vehicle sales to date 34 percent of new zero-emission electric vehicles sold in the U.S. are sold in California, according to the California Air Resources Board 60 zero-emission electric and related vehicle manufacturers operate in California — the nation’s leader in zero-emission electric vehicle manufacturing jobs

About the California Energy Commission

The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, promoting energy efficiency, certifying thermal power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.

About Caltrans

To learn more about projects that are helping build a climate-friendly future in California, visit build.ca.gov and RebuildingCA.ca.gov.

Courtesy of Energy.ca.gov