Policy shifts at the federal level have cast shadows over future investment in clean energy technology such as electric vehicles, but at least one state is not slowing down.

In February 2025, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced a major investment in EV charging infrastructure. The Commission has launched a $55 million project to help install fast chargers around the state.

The Fast Charge California Project will open its funding window in July 2025 to EV charging service providers and others. Funding will be available to cover up to 100% of the installation costs. Targeted sites will be on publicly accessible facilities, such as convenience stores, gas stations, retail centers, parking lots, hotels and others. Funds will be prioritized for tribal, disadvantaged and low-income communities.

Other key elements of the program include rebates only for DC fast chargers; funding limits of $55,000 or $100,000 per charging port, depending on the power level; and a requirement for ready-to-build projects with an approved utility service design and issued construction permit.

The funding is part of a larger program entitled the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), which the CEC describes as “the nation’s largest EV charging incentive initiative.”

According to CEC, California has nearly 1.5 million light-duty EVs on its roadways, and the CALeVIP has already incentivized nearly 10,000 EV chargers to support this growing industry.

California is the nation’s leader in EV charging stations. Also according to the CEC, the state has 152,356 charging stations. Of these, 65,000 (43%) are public and 86,000 (57%) are shared private, which includes apartment building and workplace parking lots.

In 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-79-20 to have all new cars and light trucks sold in the state be electric by 2035.