The state of Colorado has announced $17.3 million in new grant awards through the Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Plazas program to install 172 new fast-charging ports at 29 locations across the state.
The grants will be funded from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program and the state’s Community Access Enterprise (CAE). The NEVI-supported grant awards aim to fill charging gaps along Colorado’s federally designated alternative fuel corridors, and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is awarding CAE funding for projects in communities with a growing demand for EV charging to meet local needs.
Colorado has provided more than $48 million to add 580 new fast charging ports through the first three rounds of this program, expanding its network of over 1,100 ports by 50%. The first of the NEVI-funded fast chargers from previous funding rounds are expected to open in early 2025, and chargers supported by the current round should become available towards the end of the year. The CEO plans to offer two DCFC Plazas funding rounds per year. The next round is expected to open in the spring.
Grant recipients include charging station operators, fuel providers, convenience stores and local governments.
“Thanks to federal, state, local, and private investment, we’re seeing new places to charge electric vehicles showing up all over the state,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “The ongoing state and federal investment through this program will have a huge impact on access to charging in Colorado, ensuring that the hundreds of thousands of Coloradans who are switching to electric cars can easily get where they need to go, while also saving money on fuel and maintenance costs.”
Source: Colorado Energy Office
