Get ready for Colorado’s next EV charging funding round: $17M Available for DC Fast Charging
For Colorado businesses, the opportunity to join the state’s nation-leading EV charging network is returning.
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is preparing to release the next round of its Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Plazas program. With an estimated $17 million in funding available, sourced from both federal NEVI funds and the state’s Community Access Enterprise (CAE), DCFC Plazas is a fantastic opportunity to deploy EV charging across Colorado.
For travel centers, convenience stores, and retailers, the window to prepare your site strategy is now. Our team has applied for and won DCFC Plazas funding in several previous rounds, which has informed our familiarity with key criteria that potential applicants should consider
The funding structure: High incentives for rural areas and gap coverage
DCFC Plazas leverages federal and state funds to increase access to charging in communities and along highways across Colorado. While specific "priority areas" will be revealed when the solicitation goes live, the program structure offers significant support by embracing statewide project eligibility. Eligibility for matching funds varies by location, with rural projects typically receiving up to 80% coverage of eligible project costs.
- Sites must feature at least four charging ports.
- The program requires 150kW simultaneous power per port (600kW total station capacity) to ensure a fast and reliable charging experience for drivers.
Colorado and demand charges
Securing funding may be the first step to deploying in Colorado, but a successful EV fast charging station in the Centennial State requires planning for long-term operating costs.
Colorado is known for having some of the highest utility demand charges in the country. A standalone EV charger installation could lead to skyrocketing monthly utility bills that eat into your ROI. However, the Colorado Energy Office explicitly incentivizes and funds Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) under this program to help mitigate these high operational costs and reduce the grid impacts of high power EV charging.
Scoring to win: What the CEC is looking for:
A good starting point is our breakdown of last year’s CA NEVI winners and losing trends. You can view that here.
California’s selection process is highly competitive. For this round of funding, your application must excel in several critical areas:
Project Readiness & Speed: The CEC prioritizes projects that can get "chargers in the ground" quickly. This is where many projects stall due to grid constraints. Electric Era’s battery-backed technology allows for high-power charging even on limited grid connections, often bypassing the need for expensive and time-consuming utility upgrades.
Operations & Maintenance (O&M): Winning bids must demonstrate a robust plan for 5-year maintenance. Electric Era provides a comprehensive, single-source O&M solution, ensuring your site remains a reliable destination for drivers without requiring you to manage technical repairs.
Electric Era & Colorado
Electric Era is already live and operational in Colorado, recently deploying stations at Love's Travel Stops in Buena Vista,. We understand the local utility landscape and the specific requirements of the DCFC Plazas program. We have successfully deployed NEVI and state-funded infrastructure in complex utility territories and our technology meets the state’s 150kW simultaneous power requirements while optimizing your energy usage.
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Planning ahead
The exact locations eligible for this funding will be released when the RFP goes live.
Don’t wait for the announcement to start your site evaluation. Contact our experts today and we will ensure you are the first to know which of your locations qualify for this $17M opportunity.
Go beyond Colorado: Join our webinar
Want to learn more about mitigating demand charges? Join our webinar on Thursday, March 19 to learn about how different utility tariffs and grid locations can affect your EV charging site. We’ll also share strategies to mitigate demand charges, turning unprofitable forecasts into opportunities for positive ROI charging stations.
For Colorado businesses, the opportunity to join the state’s nation-leading EV charging network is returning.
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is preparing to release the next round of its Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Plazas program. With an estimated $17 million in funding available, sourced from both federal NEVI funds and the state’s Community Access Enterprise (CAE), DCFC Plazas is a fantastic opportunity to deploy EV charging across Colorado.
For travel centers, convenience stores, and retailers, the window to prepare your site strategy is now. Our team has applied for and won DCFC Plazas funding in several previous rounds, which has informed our familiarity with key criteria that potential applicants should consider
The funding structure: High incentives for rural areas and gap coverage
DCFC Plazas leverages federal and state funds to increase access to charging in communities and along highways across Colorado. While specific "priority areas" will be revealed when the solicitation goes live, the program structure offers significant support by embracing statewide project eligibility. Eligibility for matching funds varies by location, with rural projects typically receiving up to 80% coverage of eligible project costs.
- Sites must feature at least four charging ports.
- The program requires 150kW simultaneous power per port (600kW total station capacity) to ensure a fast and reliable charging experience for drivers.
Colorado and demand charges
Securing funding may be the first step to deploying in Colorado, but a successful EV fast charging station in the Centennial State requires planning for long-term operating costs.
Colorado is known for having some of the highest utility demand charges in the country. A standalone EV charger installation could lead to skyrocketing monthly utility bills that eat into your ROI. However, the Colorado Energy Office explicitly incentivizes and funds Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) under this program to help mitigate these high operational costs and reduce the grid impacts of high power EV charging.
Scoring to win: What the CEC is looking for:
A good starting point is our breakdown of last year’s CA NEVI winners and losing trends. You can view that here.
California’s selection process is highly competitive. For this round of funding, your application must excel in several critical areas:
Project Readiness & Speed: The CEC prioritizes projects that can get "chargers in the ground" quickly. This is where many projects stall due to grid constraints. Electric Era’s battery-backed technology allows for high-power charging even on limited grid connections, often bypassing the need for expensive and time-consuming utility upgrades.
Operations & Maintenance (O&M): Winning bids must demonstrate a robust plan for 5-year maintenance. Electric Era provides a comprehensive, single-source O&M solution, ensuring your site remains a reliable destination for drivers without requiring you to manage technical repairs.
Electric Era & Colorado
Electric Era is already live and operational in Colorado, recently deploying stations at Love's Travel Stops in Buena Vista,. We understand the local utility landscape and the specific requirements of the DCFC Plazas program. We have successfully deployed NEVI and state-funded infrastructure in complex utility territories and our technology meets the state’s 150kW simultaneous power requirements while optimizing your energy usage.
Planning ahead
The exact locations eligible for this funding will be released when the RFP goes live.
Don’t wait for the announcement to start your site evaluation. Contact our experts today and we will ensure you are the first to know which of your locations qualify for this $17M opportunity.
Go beyond Colorado: Join our webinar
Want to learn more about mitigating demand charges? Join our webinar on Thursday, March 19 to learn about how different utility tariffs and grid locations can affect your EV charging site. We’ll also share strategies to mitigate demand charges, turning unprofitable forecasts into opportunities for positive ROI charging stations.
