EV Charging Station Grants & Tax Credits
What grants are available for EV charging stations?
Federal programs cover a large share of commercial EV charging costs: the 30C tax credit reimburses 30% of hardware and installation (up to $100,000 per port) in eligible census tracts, and the $5 billion NEVI program funds DC fast chargers along highway corridors at up to 80% of cost. Many states add rebates on top — Colorado is among the most generous.
Federal Grants & Tax Credits
These programs are available nationwide to eligible commercial properties and can be combined with state and utility incentives.
30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
- Jurisdiction: United States
- Amount: 30% of cost, up to $100,000 per charging port (businesses)
- Covers: Hardware and installation of EV charging equipment placed in service in eligible low-income or non-urban census tracts.
- Eligibility: Commercial property in an eligible census tract; subject to prevailing-wage and apprenticeship requirements to claim the full 30% (otherwise 6%). Claimed on IRS Form 8911.
- Source: IRS — Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program
- Jurisdiction: United States (via state DOTs)
- Amount: Up to 80% of eligible project cost
- Covers: DC fast charging (typically 150 kW+ per port, 4 ports) along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.
- Eligibility: Sites within ~1 mile of a designated highway corridor, meeting federal uptime, power, and payment standards. Awarded through competitive solicitations run by each state's department of transportation.
- Source: FHWA — NEVI Formula Program
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program
- Jurisdiction: United States
- Amount: Competitive grants covering up to 80% of eligible cost
- Covers: Community-level and corridor EV charging, including publicly accessible chargers in urban and rural communities.
- Eligibility: States, local governments, tribes, and other public entities (private partners via subaward). Awarded through periodic federal funding rounds.
- Source: FHWA — CFI Discretionary Grant Program
Colorado EV Charging Grants & Rebates
Colorado is one of the most generous states for EV charging incentives, combining state grants from the Colorado Energy Office with utility rebates from Xcel Energy and other providers. Stacked with the federal 30C credit, these programs can cover the majority of a commercial charging project.
Charge Ahead Colorado
- Jurisdiction: Colorado
- Amount: Up to 80% of cost, capped per port (e.g., up to $9,000 per dual-port Level 2; higher caps for DC fast)
- Covers: Level 2 and DC fast charging hardware and installation at workplaces, multifamily, fleets, and public sites.
- Eligibility: Businesses, local governments, nonprofits, and landlords in Colorado. Administered by the Colorado Energy Office; applications accepted in periodic rounds.
- Source: Colorado Energy Office — Charge Ahead Colorado
DRIVE Clean / Clean Fleet Vehicle & Technology Grants
- Jurisdiction: Colorado
- Amount: Varies by solicitation; covers a share of fleet charging infrastructure
- Covers: Fleet electrification including depot charging infrastructure for public and private fleets.
- Eligibility: Colorado fleets and partners; awarded through Colorado Energy Office and CDOT clean-transportation programs.
- Source: Colorado Energy Office — Grants & Incentives
Xcel Energy EV Charging Programs (Charging Perks / Make-Ready)
- Jurisdiction: Colorado (Xcel service territory)
- Amount: Make-ready infrastructure rebates plus per-port rebates; higher amounts for income-qualified and multifamily sites
- Covers: Utility-side and customer-side 'make-ready' wiring plus rebates toward Level 2 and DC fast chargers.
- Eligibility: Xcel Energy commercial and multifamily customers in Colorado. Enroll through Xcel's Commercial EV programs.
- Source: Xcel Energy — Commercial EV Charging
Grants in Other States
Most states offer their own EV charging rebates through their energy office or utilities, frequently stackable with the federal 30C credit. We're expanding this guide state by state. In the meantime, tell us your location below and we'll identify the programs you qualify for.
Estimate Your Own ROI
Every site is different. Plug in your port count, charging speed, and local traffic to get a live revenue and payback estimate built on the same assumptions used throughout this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grants are available for EV charging stations?
Commercial properties can combine the federal 30C tax credit (30% of cost, up to $100,000 per port in eligible areas), the NEVI program for highway DC fast charging, and the CFI discretionary grants. Many states and utilities add rebates on top — Colorado's Charge Ahead program and Xcel Energy rebates are among the most generous.
How does the federal 30C tax credit work?
The 30C Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit reimburses 30% of hardware and installation cost, up to $100,000 per charging port, for equipment placed in service in eligible low-income or non-urban census tracts. Businesses claim it on IRS Form 8911; meeting prevailing-wage and apprenticeship rules is required for the full credit.
What is the NEVI program?
NEVI is a $5 billion federal program that funds DC fast charging along designated highway corridors, covering up to 80% of eligible project cost. Each state's department of transportation runs competitive solicitations for sites near Alternative Fuel Corridors that meet federal uptime, power, and payment standards.
Can I combine federal and state EV charging incentives?
Yes. Federal credits like 30C generally stack with state grants and utility rebates, though the combined total usually cannot exceed your project cost. In Colorado, owners frequently stack Charge Ahead Colorado grants and Xcel Energy rebates with the 30C credit to cover the majority of a project.
Get a Free Revenue & Cost Assessment
Tell us about your property and our team will follow up within one business day with a demand snapshot, ROI projection, and incentive eligibility — at no cost.
Prefer to model it yourself first? Use the EV charging revenue calculator or the interactive ROI tool on the property owners hub.