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) has released the next round of its Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Plazas program. With $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
The good news: the entire state of Colorado is eligible. However, funding levels and match requirements vary significantly depending on where your site is located. The CEO has divided the state into three tiers:
- Seven County Denver Metro Area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson): Up to $75,000 per port, 50% match
- Front Range Urban (Pueblo, El Paso, Larimer, Weld): Up to $100,000 per port, 65% match
- Rural (remainder of the state): Up to $125,000 per port, 80% match
The CEO has also identified 10 priority locations including: Bennett/Strasburg, Cheyenne Wells, Fraser/Winter Park, Gunnison, Holly, Ignacio/Southern Ute Reservation, Julesburg, Saguache, Walden, and Wellington, which qualify for up to $175,000 per port at 80% match. Sites in these areas that also fall within one mile of a federal Alternative Fuel Corridor may be eligible for NEVI funding specifically.
Additional details:
- 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.
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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Contact our experts today to discuss this grant opportunity and receive a free site analysis of your properties.
Go beyond Colorado: Watch our webinar
Want to learn more about mitigating demand charges? View our webinar recording to learn about how different utility tariffs and grid locations can affect your EV charging site. We 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) has released the next round of its Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Plazas program. With $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
The good news: the entire state of Colorado is eligible. However, funding levels and match requirements vary significantly depending on where your site is located. The CEO has divided the state into three tiers:
- Seven County Denver Metro Area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson): Up to $75,000 per port, 50% match
- Front Range Urban (Pueblo, El Paso, Larimer, Weld): Up to $100,000 per port, 65% match
- Rural (remainder of the state): Up to $125,000 per port, 80% match
The CEO has also identified 10 priority locations including: Bennett/Strasburg, Cheyenne Wells, Fraser/Winter Park, Gunnison, Holly, Ignacio/Southern Ute Reservation, Julesburg, Saguache, Walden, and Wellington, which qualify for up to $175,000 per port at 80% match. Sites in these areas that also fall within one mile of a federal Alternative Fuel Corridor may be eligible for NEVI funding specifically.
Additional details:
- 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.
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.
Contact our experts today to discuss this grant opportunity and receive a free site analysis of your properties.
Go beyond Colorado: Watch our webinar
Want to learn more about mitigating demand charges? View our webinar recording to learn about how different utility tariffs and grid locations can affect your EV charging site. We share strategies to mitigate demand charges, turning unprofitable forecasts into opportunities for positive ROI charging stations.
