Thousands more electric vehicle chargers are on the way to California following the state Energy Commission’s approval of $1.4 billion for EV charging as well as hydrogen refueling infrastructure, officials announced Wednesday.
The new infrastructure is for light, medium and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles throughout the state, which officials said expands the most extensive charging and hydrogen refueling network in the United States.
The funding will result in nearly 17,000 additional chargers for passenger vehicles statewide. Currently more than 152,000 public and shared private chargers are in service.
With a combination of state funding from with previous investment plans and grants from the federal government, electric utilities and other programs, officials expect California to reach 250,000 chargers in the next few years. An estimated 500,000 chargers are installed at private residences statewide.
“An important part of achieving our clean car future is building chargers in every corner of California, especially in neighborhoods historically left behind,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “With this investment, and the help of the private sector, we’re building a bigger, better vehicle charging network that ensures Californians can reliably and affordably get where they’re going.”
The $1.4 billion spending plan details how the Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program will allocate the funding over the next four years. At least half of the funds will aim to “benefit lower-income and disadvantaged communities,” officials said.
This latest large spending outlay is part of Newsom’s California Climate Commitment, which includes more than $10 billion for zero-emission vehicles and ZEV infrastructure. California has also received billions of federal dollars for clean transportation.
The funds will become available over the next four years and distributed to projects via competitive grants. Projects include direct incentive and rebate programs for businesses, nonprofits, tribes and local government agencies.
“Today’s approval of the investment plan reaffirms California’s commitment to funding zero-emission refueling infrastructure,” CEC Lead Commissioner for Transportation Patty Monahan said in a statement. “The plan prioritizes clean air benefits in low-income and disadvantaged communities that need it the most. There is no doubt — ZEVs are here to stay in the Golden State.”
ZEVs topped 26.4% of the state’s new vehicle sales in 2024’s third quarter, and the Newsom administration is prioritizing clean fuel production, public transportation and rail infrastructure enhancements, as well as “a cleaner, smarter electric grid to help power it all,” officials said.
ZEV sales totaled 115,897 in the third quarter of 2024, an average of 1,300 sold each day with 2.1 million sold in the state to date, the CEC reported. California accounts for 30% of new ZEVs sold in the U.S., according to the state Air Resources Board.
The Clean Transportation Program began in 2007 and is one of the first funding efforts focused on transportation in support of the state’s climate change policies. So far spending has totaled $2.3 billion for ZEV infrastructure, alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.
Officials listed these results from the Clean Transportation Program:
- 63% of funding awarded in disadvantaged or low-income communities.
- Nearly 34,700 EV chargers installed or planned.
- 96 public hydrogen fueling stations installed or planned.
- Creation of the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project to provide streamlined incentives for EV chargers.
- $100 million to fund 120 projects for truck and bus charging and refueling via the Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles Project.
- 2,300 clean school buses funded along with 1,100 ZEV school buses currently in service.
- 40 ZEV and ZEV-related manufacturing projects that support in-state economic growth.
- Workforce training for more than 32,000 individuals, “helping prepare workers for the clean transportation economy,” officials said.
The governor’s office characterized the ZEV funding as “a major milestone on California’s path to a clean transportation future.”
A list of infrastructure projects in communities throughout the state is online at build.ca.gov.
