California regulators have approved a $95.2 million funding plan for zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure, with nearly equal amounts going to charging for passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty trucks. 

The California Energy Commission on Dec. 11 approved the funding for the Clean Transportation Program for fiscal 2024/25. The package includes $40 million for light-duty EV charging infrastructure; $38.2 million for medium- and heavy-duty ZEV infrastructure; $15 million in hydrogen-specific funding; and $2 million for workforce development. 

The slightly higher funding amount for light-duty charging infrastructure comes after the program has given more money to medium- and heavy-duty ZEV infrastructure over the years, Commissioner Patty Monahan noted. 

“But this year, given the fact that we really want to make progress on reaching our state goals for charger deployment, we’re leaning in a little bit more on light duty, but with a very strong focus on equity,” Monahan said. 

California will require all new cars sold in the state to be zero emission by 2035. A CEC report finalized this year projects the state will need 1 million public or shared-private light-duty EV chargers by 2030, growing to 2.1 million chargers by 2035. 

The state now has about 152,000 public or shared-private EV chargers, a number expected to grow to about 359,000 when chargers are built with previously allocated funding. 

Charger Types Debated

CEC staff described the funding plan as a high-level view. Specific projects will be selected later through competitive grant solicitations, block grants and in some cases, direct awards or loans. Among the yet-to-be-determined details is how much funding should go to particular types of light-duty EV chargers.  

Bill Magavern with the Coalition for Clean Air made a case for funding Level 1 chargers, which he said could benefit low- and moderate-income drivers living in apartments. “We continue to think that there’s a role for Level 1 charging in providing a really low-cost alternative for some of those multi-family dwellings,” Magavern said. 

On the other hand, Commission Chair David Hochschild noted the importance of DC fast chargers to those who drive for a living. He said one in five Uber rides in California now is in an electric vehicle, compared to one in 10 rides nationally. “Time is money. If they’re stuck at a slow charger, it really impedes their ability to drive electric,” Hochschild said. “Access to fast charging is essential to that sector.” 

Future Funding

Funding for the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program comes from a surcharge on California vehicle registrations. The program also can receive money from the state’s general fund or the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. 

But due to a budget shortfall, those sources did not provide funding to the Clean Transportation Program for fiscal 2024/25. The CEC expects that funding to resume over the next three fiscal years to the tune of $1.3 billion. 

Adding the anticipated state funding to this year’s base funding, the CEC investment plan envisions allocating $1.39 billion through fiscal 2027/28. That would include $659 million for light-duty EV charging infrastructure, $668 million for medium- and heavy-duty ZEV infrastructure, $15 million in hydrogen-specific funding, $46 million for emerging opportunities and $2 million for workforce development. 

The funding plan notes those amounts could change as future budgets are finalized. 

The Clean Transportation Program was created in 2007 through Assembly Bill 118. AB 126 of 2023 extended the program until July 2035 and required that at least half of the program’s funding go toward projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities starting in 2025. 

Since its launch, the program has invested $2.3 billion into projects supporting ZEV infrastructure. As of July 2024, 63% of funds have gone to projects in communities that are disadvantaged, low-income or both. 

“Approval of the investment plan reaffirms California’s commitment to funding zero-emission refueling infrastructure,” Monahan said in a statement after the vote. “There is no doubt — ZEVs are here to stay in the Golden State.”