Federal Highway Funding · NEVI
NEVI Program: How to Win Up to $2.5M for DC Fast Chargers in California
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is the largest single source of EV charger funding in U.S. history — $5B over five years. Here's exactly how California commercial properties qualify.
Quick Answer
NEVI funds up to 80% of DC fast charger project costs (typically $1M–$2.5M per site) for properties within one mile of a designated Alternative Fuel Corridor. California sites must include 4+ ports of 150kW+ each. Apply through Caltrans solicitations.
Federal
Up to 80% of project costs (typically $1M–$2.5M per site)
Reimbursement grant
6–12 months from application to award; 12–24 months to energization
Program Overview
The NEVI Formula Program allocates $5 billion over five years to build a national network of DC fast chargers along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs). California receives roughly $384 million of that total, administered by Caltrans through competitive solicitations to commercial property owners and charging operators.
Unlike most EV charger grants, NEVI is built specifically for high-power, high-availability sites along major highways. To qualify, a property must be within one travel mile of an AFC exit, deploy at least four 150kW+ DC fast chargers operating simultaneously, and commit to 97% uptime for five years.
NEVI is the most lucrative EV charger grant available to commercial property owners — and the most competitive. Properties that prepare in advance (electrical capacity studies, site control documentation, operator partnerships) win awards. Properties that apply reactively rarely do.
Funding Details
Eligibility
- Property must be within 1 travel mile of a designated Alternative Fuel Corridor exit
- Site must accommodate at least 4 DC fast charging ports of 150kW or more, operating simultaneously
- Applicant must demonstrate site control (ownership or long-term lease)
- Project must commit to 97% uptime for 5 years post-energization
- Site must be open to the public 24/7/365
- Compliance with Buy America Act and Build America, Buy America provisions
Best For
Truck stops · Travel centers · Gas stations · Highway-adjacent shopping centers · Hotels near interstates
How to Apply for NEVI
Estimated timeline: 6–12 months from application to award; 12–24 months to energization
- 1
Confirm AFC corridor proximity
Use the FHWA Alternative Fuel Corridor map to verify your property is within one travel mile of a designated AFC exit. If you are not within range, NEVI is not a fit — pivot to CALeVIP or utility programs.
- 2
Complete an electrical capacity study
NEVI requires four 150kW+ ports running simultaneously (600kW+ aggregate demand). Engage your utility for a make-ready assessment to confirm or upgrade service capacity. This step alone takes 2–4 months.
- 3
Secure site control documentation
Caltrans requires deed, recorded long-term lease (typically 7+ years), or executed option-to-lease. Letters of intent are not sufficient.
- 4
Partner with a qualified charging operator
Most successful NEVI applications are joint submissions between the property owner and an experienced CPO (Tesla, EVgo, ChargePoint, Electrify America). Operators bring uptime track record and Buy America compliance documentation.
- 5
Submit to active Caltrans solicitation
Caltrans releases NEVI solicitations in waves. Monitor dot.ca.gov/programs/transportation-planning/zev for active rounds. Applications include site plans, utility coordination letters, financial pro forma, and operator agreements.
- 6
Execute project agreement and energize
Awarded projects sign a project agreement, complete construction within 18 months, and submit reimbursement requests at construction milestones. Final payment hinges on hitting the 97% uptime threshold.
Stacking with Other Programs
NEVI funds up to 80% of project costs but cannot be combined with other federal grants for the same costs. However, NEVI IS stackable with the federal 30C tax credit (which covers a different cost base — equipment placed in service vs. project construction) and with state-level CALeVIP rebates and utility make-ready programs. A well-structured stack can recover 90%+ of total project cost.
Common Mistakes That Disqualify Applications
- Applying without confirmed utility capacity — Caltrans rejects sites that cannot energize within 18 months
- Underestimating uptime requirements — 97% over 5 years requires redundancy and 24/7 monitoring
- Submitting solo without an operator partner — single-applicant CPO-less applications rarely score competitively
- Ignoring Buy America compliance — non-compliant equipment disqualifies the entire application
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask Aiden about NEVI
Ask Aiden about this program — eligibility, stacking, deadlines, or how it might apply to your property.
Informational only — not legal, tax, or investment advice.
Related Incentive Programs
State
CALeVIP
Up to $80,000 per DC fast charger; up to $7,500 per Level 2 port
Federal
30C Tax Credit
30% of equipment cost, up to $100,000 per single charging port
Utility
SCE Charge Ready
100% of make-ready electrical infrastructure (typically $50K–$200K per site)
Utility
PG&E EV Charge Network
100% of make-ready costs + per-port rebates up to $9,500
Utility
SDG&E Power Your Drive
100% of make-ready + significant equipment rebates
Air District
SCAQMD
Up to $80,000 per DC fast charger; $5,000 per Level 2 port