How California can cover 100% of your EV fast charging installation costs
California's most expansive EV fast charging incentive program is returning. If you have commercial locations in the state, now is the time to start preparing.
The California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP; also known as Fast Charge California Project (FCCP)) is gearing up for two new funding windows with at least $55 million on the table. Details are still being finalized, but enough is known to say confidently: the businesses that move early will be the ones that win funding. Here's what you need to know:
Incentive structure:
Window 2 for this program opens October 7, 2026 and closes January 14, 2027. This round carries the highest per-port incentives CALeVIP has ever offered. Up to $100,000 per charging port, covering up to 100% of eligible installation costs. That's a significant increase from the $55,000 per port cap in the previous round.
Window 3 opens February 24, 2027 and closes May 27, 2027. Incentive levels in this round are capped at $55,000 per port, regardless of power level, with a minimum output of 150 kW.
What we know about eligibility
Both windows are expected to be open statewide, with no set regional allocations. Funding will again operate on a first-come, first-served basis, which means the queue fills up fast and preparation is everything.
A few key updates from the prior round worth noting:
- The applicant must be both the incentive recipient and the owner of the charging equipment. In practice, this means your business applies, receives the incentive, and owns the hardware.
- All funded chargers must be ENERGY STAR certified. This is a new requirement not present in the last round .
- Technical requirements are expected to stay largely consistent with the prior round: a minimum of 4 charging ports with 150 kW simultaneous output. We're still waiting on confirmation of the maximum port count per site.
First-come, first-served
CALeVIP's funding queue rewards readiness. In the previous round, applicants had to submit both a Final Utility Service Design and an Issued Permit just to be eligible. No permit, no place in line.
That means the real work (utility coordination, permitting, site engineering) needs to happen well before the application window opens. October 7 sounds far away. For utility timelines and permitting, it isn't.
For a site starting today, a realistic timeline looks like this:
4–6 weeks for site assessment and utility coordination
8–12 weeks for utility design approval, and 4–8 weeks for permitting
This puts you at roughly 4–6 months of lead time before you're ready to apply. With Window 2 opening October 7, that means the clock has already started ticking.
Also worth noting: CALeVIP funds cannot be stacked with most other funding sources. That includes other CEC programs like CA NEVI, most utility rebate programs, and air district funding programs. The exceptions include federal tax credits, Tariff Rules 29 & 45, and LCFS revenue. If you're actively pursuing other incentives for the same site, this is an important planning consideration.
Why Electric Era
Electric Era has helped customers secure over $42.5 million in EV infrastructure funding across NEVI and CALeVIP programs. We bring the same end-to-end approach — site evaluation, grant strategy, and world-class hardware — to every opportunity we pursue alongside our customers.
Our battery-backed charging stations are particularly well-suited for CALeVIP deployments. They reduce the need for costly utility upgrades, helping you meet the program's output requirements without expensive grid work, and making your application timeline more predictable.
Full program terms and conditions haven't been released yet, but the window to prepare is open right now.
If you have California locations and want to be ready when Window 2 opens in October, reach out to the Electric Era team today.
California's most expansive EV fast charging incentive program is returning. If you have commercial locations in the state, now is the time to start preparing.
The California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP; also known as Fast Charge California Project (FCCP)) is gearing up for two new funding windows with at least $55 million on the table. Details are still being finalized, but enough is known to say confidently: the businesses that move early will be the ones that win funding. Here's what you need to know:
Incentive structure:
Window 2 for this program opens October 7, 2026 and closes January 14, 2027. This round carries the highest per-port incentives CALeVIP has ever offered. Up to $100,000 per charging port, covering up to 100% of eligible installation costs. That's a significant increase from the $55,000 per port cap in the previous round.
Window 3 opens February 24, 2027 and closes May 27, 2027. Incentive levels in this round are capped at $55,000 per port, regardless of power level, with a minimum output of 150 kW.
What we know about eligibility
Both windows are expected to be open statewide, with no set regional allocations. Funding will again operate on a first-come, first-served basis, which means the queue fills up fast and preparation is everything.
A few key updates from the prior round worth noting:
- The applicant must be both the incentive recipient and the owner of the charging equipment. In practice, this means your business applies, receives the incentive, and owns the hardware.
- All funded chargers must be ENERGY STAR certified. This is a new requirement not present in the last round .
- Technical requirements are expected to stay largely consistent with the prior round: a minimum of 4 charging ports with 150 kW simultaneous output. We're still waiting on confirmation of the maximum port count per site.
First-come, first-served
CALeVIP's funding queue rewards readiness. In the previous round, applicants had to submit both a Final Utility Service Design and an Issued Permit just to be eligible. No permit, no place in line.
That means the real work (utility coordination, permitting, site engineering) needs to happen well before the application window opens. October 7 sounds far away. For utility timelines and permitting, it isn't.
For a site starting today, a realistic timeline looks like this:
4–6 weeks for site assessment and utility coordination
8–12 weeks for utility design approval, and 4–8 weeks for permitting
This puts you at roughly 4–6 months of lead time before you're ready to apply. With Window 2 opening October 7, that means the clock has already started ticking.
Also worth noting: CALeVIP funds cannot be stacked with most other funding sources. That includes other CEC programs like CA NEVI, most utility rebate programs, and air district funding programs. The exceptions include federal tax credits, Tariff Rules 29 & 45, and LCFS revenue. If you're actively pursuing other incentives for the same site, this is an important planning consideration.
Why Electric Era
Electric Era has helped customers secure over $42.5 million in EV infrastructure funding across NEVI and CALeVIP programs. We bring the same end-to-end approach — site evaluation, grant strategy, and world-class hardware — to every opportunity we pursue alongside our customers.
Our battery-backed charging stations are particularly well-suited for CALeVIP deployments. They reduce the need for costly utility upgrades, helping you meet the program's output requirements without expensive grid work, and making your application timeline more predictable.
Full program terms and conditions haven't been released yet, but the window to prepare is open right now.
If you have California locations and want to be ready when Window 2 opens in October, reach out to the Electric Era team today.
