Slash Your EV Charging Costs by Up to 90% With Charge Ahead Colorado

Organizations across Colorado — whether public, private, or nonprofit — are getting on board with onsite electric vehicle (EV) charging. The technology is a powerful tool for attracting customers and building tenants who drive EVs, and can boost property values while supporting community sustainability goals and providing equitable access to clean transportation.

But while the benefits are clear, the upfront costs of installing EV charging infrastructure can be daunting. Fortunately, the Charge Ahead Colorado program offers substantial financial support, making it easier than ever to bring EV charging to your property. Read on to learn how this incentive works, who qualifies, and how PowerFlex can help you secure funding and manage your project from start to finish.

What Is Charge Ahead Colorado?

Charge Ahead Colorado is a grant program administered by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) that helps fund the installation of EV charging stations across the state. The program is designed to accelerate EV adoption by making charging more accessible in communities, workplaces, multifamily housing, and public spaces.

Up to $250,000 is available per applicant, per round, for Level 2 (L2) or DC Fast Charging (DCFC) projects. Enhanced incentives are offered for disproportionately impacted communities (DICs), including increased funding and a reduced minimum match requirement. There is also a pilot funding lane for multi-family housing (MFH), limited to the installation of L2-type chargers only. 

Charge Ahead Colorado is stackable with non-state incentives, allowing applicants to maximize their funding (though it cannot be combined with Fleet ZERO or DCFC Plazas incentives).

The most current application period for standard and multifamily housing projects opened on May 12 and runs until June 13, 2025, so interested applicants are encouraged to act quickly.

Funding Structure

The Charge Ahead Colorado program is designed to make EV charging affordable for organizations of all sizes. Here’s how the funding works:

• The state funds up to 80% of eligible charging station costs, up to a maximum of $250,000 per applicant, per round.
• For the Multifamily Housing (MFH) Portfolio Pilot Lane, funding is available for up to 10% of parking spaces.
• As mentioned, funding can be stacked with non-state incentives — further reducing your out-of-pocket costs.

With the right combination of incentives, organizations can reduce their EV charging investment by up to 90%, making it possible to install infrastructure that might otherwise be out of reach.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for Charge Ahead Colorado, projects and equipment must meet specific requirements:

Project Eligibility

Eligible projects include those undertaken by:

• Public, private, and nonprofit organizations
• Local governments 
• School districts
• State and federal agencies
• Multi-family housing providers (through the MFH Pilot or Standard Application)

All projects must commit to a minimum of five years of operational service for the installed charging stations.

Equipment Eligibility

The Colorado Energy Office has identified eligible equipment for the Charge Ahead program, including:

• Level 2 chargers and DC Fast Chargers
• Utility and electric infrastructure upgrades (transformers, line extensions, switchgear, electrical panels, meters, wiring, conduit, etc.)
• Future-proofing, including additional conduit and wiring
• Video surveillance equipment for security and/or remote monitoring

All equipment must meet program standards and be installed according to accessible design requirements. Projects must also include a minimum one-year warranty and five years of networking coverage for all awarded charging stations.

PowerFlex Helps You Secure Charge Ahead Colorado Funds

As the fourth-largest EV charging network in the United States, PowerFlex manages more than 40,000 chargers nationwide — including in the state of Colorado. We’ve secured over $40 million in EV incentives for our customers to date and would love the opportunity to help your organization get all the funds it’s entitled to under the Charge Ahead program.

Don’t miss out — funding is limited and application windows are short. Contact a PowerFlex incentives expert today to get the process started and learn how we can execute all aspects of your EV charging project from design and engineering to construction and asset management.