California began accepting applications on October 7, 2026, for the Fast Charge California Project, which allocates at least $28 million to expand the public fast-charging network for electric vehicles. The program offers an incentive of up to $100,000 per port, with the possibility of covering all eligible costs within the specified cap.
Eligible businesses, nonprofit organizations, public entities and tribes in California may apply, provided that the chargers are available to the public. The California Energy Commission is funding the initiative through the CALeVIP program, while the Center for Sustainable Energy is managing it.
Incentive Amount and What It Covers
The amount of support is determined by the port's guaranteed power output. A port providing between 150 kilowatts and less than 275 kilowatts is eligible for up to $55,000, while the support reaches $100,000 for a port providing 275 kilowatts or more.
The funding can be used to cover charging equipment, installation, planning and engineering work, and may cover up to 100% of approved costs. However, the per-port cap remains in effect, so the grant will not necessarily cover the project's entire bill if its cost exceeds the eligible limit.
What Changes in Practice?
The program focuses on construction-ready projects, rather than sites that are still in the early design stages. Applicants must have a final electric-service design from the utility, or a letter confirming that no new or upgraded service is required, in addition to obtaining the necessary permits.
This requirement shortens the period between funding approval and charger operation, but it also means that the incentive is primarily aimed at site owners who have already completed coordination with utilities and the permitting process.
Eligibility and Deadlines
Applications close on January 14, 2027, and eligible applications will be funded in the order they are received after the application period ends. Projects located in disadvantaged and low-income communities and tribal communities will receive priority. This round does not include charging hubs, hotels or business districts, according to the program page.
At least 50% of the connectors installed at each site and funded by the program must also be of the CCS type. Another round is scheduled to open between February 24 and May 27, 2027, with incentives of up to $55,000 per port.
Program Context
The new round follows $56.9 million awarded in spring 2026 to fund more than 1,266 construction-ready fast-charging ports across all 58 counties in the state. More than 67% of the funded chargers were installed or planned in disadvantaged, low-income or tribal communities.
The managing organization says that CALeVIP has supported the installation of 10,200 chargers since its launch in 2017. The EV Charging Opportunity Finder tool provides maps of existing chargers, electric vehicle registrations and community data to help site owners assess installation opportunities.