The California Energy Commission (CEC) announced $55.2 million in new funding through the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) to expand public DC fast-charging infrastructure across the state.
The new funding will be available through two upcoming incentive windows and should result in hundreds of new DC fast-chargers:
“The Oct. 7, 2026 to Jan. 14, 2027 window will offer incentives covering up to 100% of eligible installation costs for DC fast chargers, up to $100,000 per charging port.
The Feb. 24, 2027 to May 27, 2027 window will offer incentives covering up to 100% of eligible installation costs for DC fast chargers, up to $55,000 per port regardless of power level with minimum output of 150kW.”
According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), California has the highest number of EV charging locations in the US, including over 18,100 publicly available DC fast-charging ports.
Assuming the new initiative adds 550-1,000 new DCFC ports (at $55,000-$100,000 per port), the infrastructure will expand by several percent.
The chargers must be publicly accessible:
“To qualify for the upcoming incentives, charging sites must be publicly accessible and meet program requirements. Priority will be given to projects in tribal areas, disadvantaged communities and low-income areas. Eligible sites may include businesses, public facilities, high-traffic destinations, and locations along key travel routes.”