The California Energy Commission on Wednesday approved a $1.4 billion investment plan to bolster emissions-free transportation in the state, including installation of almost 17,000 new electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The funds will be distributed to projects over the next four years through competitive grants.
California has about 152,000 public and shared private chargers installed today, and expects that number to reach 250,000 “in the next few years,” the CEC said. Another half million private home chargers are also installed in the state.
Approval of the investment plan “reaffirms California’s commitment to funding zero-emission refueling infrastructure,” said Patty Monahan, the CEC’s lead commissioner for transportation. “The plan prioritizes clean air benefits in low-income and disadvantaged communities that need it the most,” she said.
The funding is part of California’s $48 billion climate budget, which includes more than $10 billion for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure. The state has also received billions from the Biden-Harris administration for clean transportation, the CEC noted.
At least half of the investment must benefit “priority populations,” the CEC said, including those facing multiple sources of pollution and communities that do not have resources to invest in low-carbon solutions.
“An important part of achieving our clean car future is building chargers in every corner of California, especially in neighborhoods historically left behind,” Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, said in a statement. “With this investment, and the help of the private sector, we’re building a bigger, better vehicle charging network that ensures Californians can reliably and affordably get where they’re going.”
EV sales are rising nationwide, helped by federal purchase incentives. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he wants to do away with the EV tax credit, but may face resistance. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major U.S. vehicle manufacturers, in October pressed Congress to maintain the credits.
In California, Newsom has said that if Trump eliminates the purchase incentive then the state will propose creating a new version its Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, which was phased out in 2023 but helped fund more than 594,000 vehicle purchases and leases.
EV sales accounted for almost 9% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter of this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Dec. 4.