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Incentives

California EV charging rebates, as they actually stand today

Incentive programmes change constantly and a lot of published guidance is stale. This page reflects the position as of August 2026, and we update it when windows open and close.

The federal 30C tax credit has expired. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit ended on 30 June 2026. Equipment had to be placed in service by that date. If a competitor's quote still shows a 30% federal credit reducing your net cost, that quote is wrong and your real cost is higher than it appears.

What is currently open

Active · Statewide

CALeVIP — Fast Charge California Project

The California Energy Commission announced $55.2 million in new funding on 28 May 2026, weighted toward underserved communities. It covers public DC fast charging only.

  • Up to $100,000 per port for ports rated 275 kW and above
  • Up to $55,000 per port for 150–274.99 kW under Window 2
  • Window 3 caps at $55,000 per port, minimum 150 kW output
  • May cover up to 100% of approved costs on ready-to-build projects

Windows: October 2026 and February 2027. Competitive — site control and a filed utility application materially improve your score.

Active · Utility

PG&E make-ready programmes

Utility make-ready support covers infrastructure from the grid up to the charger — trenching, conduit, transformers, service upgrades. On commercial sites this is frequently the single largest line item, so it can matter more than hardware rebates.

  • Applies to multifamily, workplace and public sites
  • Scope and funding vary by programme and site classification
  • Requires application before construction begins — not retroactive

Varies · Local

Air district and municipal grants

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District and several cities periodically fund charging infrastructure, often targeted at multifamily housing or public access sites. These are smaller but less competitive than statewide programmes.

We check what is live in your jurisdiction as part of the survey.

Ongoing · Rate design

Choosing the right electricity tariff

Not a rebate, but often worth more over time. Commercial EV tariffs and residential EV rate plans price overnight energy far below peak. For a business, avoiding a demand-charge spike can outweigh every hardware rebate available.

We model your expected load profile against available tariffs before you commit to a charger size.

How we handle the paperwork

Incentive applications are a real workload — site documentation, single-line diagrams, equipment certification sheets, utility correspondence, and in competitive programmes a scoring narrative. We prepare and file these as part of the project rather than handing you a form and wishing you luck.

What we will not do is promise funding we cannot guarantee. CALeVIP windows are competitive and oversubscribed. We will tell you candidly how your site is likely to score, and we build project budgets that stand up without the rebate, so an unsuccessful application is a disappointment rather than a crisis.

A note on timing

The pattern worth internalising: incentive programmes reward projects that are ready to build. Sites with control secured, a utility application filed and engineering complete score well. Sites that are still an idea do not. If you are considering DC fast charging and want to target the October 2026 window, the useful work starts now — not when applications open.

Check what your site qualifies for

Questions we get about funding

Can I still claim the 30C federal tax credit?

No. It expired on 30 June 2026 and equipment had to be in service by that date. If your charger was placed in service before the deadline and you have not yet filed, speak to your tax adviser about the relevant tax year — but for anything installed now, the credit is not available.

Are there rebates for home charging specifically?

Statewide residential charger rebates are thin at the moment — CALeVIP's current funding is directed at public DC fast charging. Some utilities and local programmes still offer modest residential support, and rate plan selection usually saves a homeowner more per year than any one-off rebate would. We check what is live in your area during the survey.

Do I have to make my chargers public to get funding?

For CALeVIP's Fast Charge California funding, yes — it targets publicly accessible DC fast charging, with obligations around uptime and access duration. Utility make-ready programmes are broader and often cover workplace and multifamily sites that are not open to the public.

What if the application is unsuccessful?

You proceed or you do not — which is exactly why we build the budget without assuming the rebate. If funding is what makes your project viable, that is worth knowing before ordering equipment, and we will say so plainly during the feasibility stage.