How Pennsylvania’s latest grant program prioritizes community EV charging
For Pennsylvania retailers, convenience store operators, and commercial property owners, the opportunity to fund your site for EV fast charging has arrived. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is investing $100 million of federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding into community-focused EV charging projects.
Taking a unique, four-stage regional approach to ensure full state buildout, PennDOT has officially opened Round 1 for the Southeastern Region of the state. With the state prioritizing retail hubs and convenience stores, the demand to fill charging gaps is an immediate opportunity to modernize your property while lowering your capital risk.
The funding structure
Pennsylvania is rolling out its funding in four targeted regional phases to ensure comprehensive community-focused public charging coverage. Round 1 is focused on the Southeastern Region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties), with Western, Central, and Eastern rounds to follow later in 2026 and 2027.
Total available funding
- $100 million across the four regional rounds.
- Award cap: Up to $1 million per project.
- Match requirement: Applicants are responsible for at least a 20% match share.
- Timeline: Round 1 (Southeastern) proposals are due August 21, 2026.
Key technical requirements and scoring
To qualify for the grant, your proposed charging station must comply with federal and PennDOT requirements, which include deploying a minimum of four CCS charging ports and ensuring sites are accessible 24/7.
Pennsylvania’s selection process will be highly competitive - being strategic will support the chances of your proposal being awarded. To win, your proposal must excel in several key areas:
- Avoiding duplication: PennDOT’s primary goal is to fill infrastructure gaps. They heavily factor in population density and the proximity of existing DC fast chargers to ensure new sites are not duplicative of existing investments.
- Cost efficiency: A major portion of the scoring (20%) evaluates the NEVI funding amount requested per kW of charging capacity, with PennDOT looking to maximize their investments by making dollars stretch further.
Amenities and destinations: 10% of the score is dedicated to the quality of the amenities, features, and destinations available to drivers while they charge. - Team qualifications: 10% of the score relies on the experience and capabilities of your project team, including your EVSE provider.
Why partner with Electric Era?
Navigating NEVI grants requires an experienced partner. Electric Era has a strong track record of success in ourNEVI proposals across the United States, and brings deep familiarity with PennDOT's processes. In a previous funding round, Electric Era won 100% of the PA sites we applied for, successfully securing funds for locations like Giant Eagle and GetGo. We understand what it takes to win in Pennsylvania.
Grid constraints & deployment speed
An increasingly common hurdle for the deployment of new high-power EV chargers is limited grid capacity. Electric Era’s patented battery-backed technology allows you to deploy high-power charging on a reduced grid connection, bypassing the need for expensive and time-consuming utility upgrades and getting your station in the ground faster.
Comprehensive O&M
Winning bids need a reliable plan for ongoing Operations and Maintenance. We provide a single-source O&M solution to ensure your site meets NEVI’s 97% annual uptime requirement and remains a dependable destination for drivers, without requiring you to manage the technical repairs.
Whether you are in the Southeastern region preparing for the August deadline or looking ahead to the Western, Central, and Eastern rounds of Pennsylvania, now is the time to start planning your strategy for these opportunities . Reach out to Electric Era today to evaluate your eligible locations and secure your share of Pennsylvania's community charging funds.
Not sure where to start with grants? Watch our webinar recording, The 2026 Grant Roadmap for Installing EV Charging Infrastructure.
For Pennsylvania retailers, convenience store operators, and commercial property owners, the opportunity to fund your site for EV fast charging has arrived. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is investing $100 million of federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding into community-focused EV charging projects.
Taking a unique, four-stage regional approach to ensure full state buildout, PennDOT has officially opened Round 1 for the Southeastern Region of the state. With the state prioritizing retail hubs and convenience stores, the demand to fill charging gaps is an immediate opportunity to modernize your property while lowering your capital risk.
The funding structure
Pennsylvania is rolling out its funding in four targeted regional phases to ensure comprehensive community-focused public charging coverage. Round 1 is focused on the Southeastern Region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties), with Western, Central, and Eastern rounds to follow later in 2026 and 2027.
Total available funding
- $100 million across the four regional rounds.
- Award cap: Up to $1 million per project.
- Match requirement: Applicants are responsible for at least a 20% match share.
- Timeline: Round 1 (Southeastern) proposals are due August 21, 2026.
Key technical requirements and scoring
To qualify for the grant, your proposed charging station must comply with federal and PennDOT requirements, which include deploying a minimum of four CCS charging ports and ensuring sites are accessible 24/7.
Pennsylvania’s selection process will be highly competitive - being strategic will support the chances of your proposal being awarded. To win, your proposal must excel in several key areas:
- Avoiding duplication: PennDOT’s primary goal is to fill infrastructure gaps. They heavily factor in population density and the proximity of existing DC fast chargers to ensure new sites are not duplicative of existing investments.
- Cost efficiency: A major portion of the scoring (20%) evaluates the NEVI funding amount requested per kW of charging capacity, with PennDOT looking to maximize their investments by making dollars stretch further.
Amenities and destinations: 10% of the score is dedicated to the quality of the amenities, features, and destinations available to drivers while they charge. - Team qualifications: 10% of the score relies on the experience and capabilities of your project team, including your EVSE provider.
Why partner with Electric Era?
Navigating NEVI grants requires an experienced partner. Electric Era has a strong track record of success in ourNEVI proposals across the United States, and brings deep familiarity with PennDOT's processes. In a previous funding round, Electric Era won 100% of the PA sites we applied for, successfully securing funds for locations like Giant Eagle and GetGo. We understand what it takes to win in Pennsylvania.
Grid constraints & deployment speed
An increasingly common hurdle for the deployment of new high-power EV chargers is limited grid capacity. Electric Era’s patented battery-backed technology allows you to deploy high-power charging on a reduced grid connection, bypassing the need for expensive and time-consuming utility upgrades and getting your station in the ground faster.
Comprehensive O&M
Winning bids need a reliable plan for ongoing Operations and Maintenance. We provide a single-source O&M solution to ensure your site meets NEVI’s 97% annual uptime requirement and remains a dependable destination for drivers, without requiring you to manage the technical repairs.
Whether you are in the Southeastern region preparing for the August deadline or looking ahead to the Western, Central, and Eastern rounds of Pennsylvania, now is the time to start planning your strategy for these opportunities . Reach out to Electric Era today to evaluate your eligible locations and secure your share of Pennsylvania's community charging funds.
Not sure where to start with grants? Watch our webinar recording, The 2026 Grant Roadmap for Installing EV Charging Infrastructure.
