How to Receive Up to $3.75 Million for Fleet EV Charging in California

For businesses, municipalities, and other types of entities that maintain fleets, swapping out gas-powered vehicles for electric models can generate financial savings, reduce emissions, and aid in regulatory compliance. However, in addition to vehicle replacement costs, paying for the requisite electric vehicle charging infrastructure can often become a perceived barrier to entry for fleet managers.  

Organizations in California can now take advantage of the EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles incentive program to potentially receive millions of dollars in funds for the implementation of EV charging stations for fleets. Read ahead to learn more about the program, its eligibility requirements, and how PowerFlex can help you navigate the application process.

What Is the EnergIIZE Program?

Funded by the California Energy Commission and administered by CALSTART, the EnergIIZE program aims to facilitate the electrification of commercial vehicles in the Golden State by providing money for EV charging hardware and related infrastructure through a set of four funding lanes.  

The Fast Track funding lane, which supports EV charging projects for medium- and heavy-duty (MDHD) vehicles, is now open and accepting applications through July 15, 2025.

EnergIIZE Fast Track Funding Structure

There are several important stipulations regarding the distribution of Fast Track funds:  

Maximum Award Per Project

The maximum amount an entity can be awarded for an eligible EV charging project is $3 million. However, that number jumps to $3.75 million if the project is built in a disadvantaged community (DAC) or low-income community (LIC), as defined by the program.  

There are also maximum per-charging port amounts based on the kilowatt (kW) rating of the infrastructure:

Eligible Cost Coverage

The program will cover up to 100% of your eligible costs as long as you adhere to certain project and equipment eligibility requirements (see the next section for details).  

Stackable With Other Programs

You can combine EnergIIZE funds with other EV infrastructure award programs within the state. However, terms and conditions apply, which you can read more about below.

Eligibility Requirements

EV charging station projects must meet certain eligibility requirements — both in terms of the nature of your project and the specific equipment used — in order to qualify for funding.  

Project Eligibility  

A project must fall under one of the following categories to be considered for an award:

• Business/Industry
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Government and Public Institutions
• Schools
• Tribal Governments/Entities
• Transit

In addition, there are some other requirements that must be met before the project is considered eligible, including:

• Fair Labor Practices: Prevailing wage — that is, the standard hourly wage for publicly funded projects established by the state — must be paid to all laborers who work on the project.
• ‍Warranty: California requires a minimum warranty of 6 years (from the date of commissioning) on any completed project to be considered for an award.
• ‍Maximum Application Thresholds: While the program allows applicants to stack EnergIIZE with other state incentives, there is a limit on the maximum number of applications any one entity may have. The current threshold is 50 active applications across the CALeVIP 1.0/2.0, Communities in Charge, and EnergIIZE incentive programs.

Equipment Eligibility  

In addition to project requirements, the EnergIIZE Fast Track program has issued guidance on what types of equipment are eligible for funding:  

• Chargers and charger accessories
• Utility service upgrades
• Stub-outs for future electric vehicle service equipment infrastructure installations
• EV charging management software
• One-time coverage of network and maintenance costs
• Transformers, switchgear, meter mains, and circuit breaker panels

PowerFlex Helps You Secure EnergIIZE Funds

Applying for incentive funding and ensuring your EV charging project meets all eligibility criteria may seem daunting, but PowerFlex is here to help. Having already secured more than $40 million in EV incentives for our customers and earned the trust of major California-based organizations and municipalities like DHL and Los Angeles County, we stand ready to put our expertise to work for you.  

In addition to helping you receive incentives, we can handle implementing your entire EV charging project from design and engineering to construction and maintenance. We currently operate 40,000 chargers under our management — with 97% uptime.

Speak with a PowerFlex incentives expert right now to learn how you can qualify for EngergIIZE funds and start enjoying the benefits of onsite EV charging.