CEC Approves $95 Million Plan to Expand ZEV Infrastructure

For Immediate Release: August 18, 2026

SACRAMENTO - The California Energy Commission (CEC) on Monday approved a $95.2 million investment plan that accelerates the build-out of zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure across the state. These investments will help deploy EV charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty ZEVs, solidifying California as the nation's leader in ZEV infrastructure.

The plan details how the CEC's Clean Transportation Program will spend $95.2 million in the current fiscal year, with projected allocations through 2028-2029. Since 2008, the program, supplemented with funds from state budget acts, has made significant progress in ZEV infrastructure build-out through grant-focused investments totaling more than $2.7 billion.

"As the world's fourth-largest economy, California is keeping its foot on the accelerator, cutting pollution, creating good-paying jobs, and breaking Big Oil's grip on Californians' wallets," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "Meanwhile, Donald Trump has put America in reverse, handing the global clean economy to China and our competitors. California is taking the wheel: putting more zero-emission infrastructure on the ground in more communities so every Californian can fuel up and keep moving forward."

"Funding made through the Clean Transportation Program, along with significant investment from other public and private sector partners, has made California the nation's leader in EV charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure," said CEC Commissioner Nancy Skinner. "Tailpipe and other emissions from the transportation sector account for roughly 50 percent of the pollution dirtying our air and harming the climate. The faster California can build out ZEV infrastructure, the quicker we can clean the air and improve public health."

Today's approval allocates funding towards the following categories:

• $48 million for light-duty electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, focusing on direct current (DC) fast charging and at-home or near-home charging;
• $30.2 million for medium- and heavy-duty ZEV infrastructure, focusing on freight, port, public fleet, and school bus infrastructure;
• $15 million for hydrogen refueling;
• $2 million for ZEV workforce training and development

At least 50 percent of program funds must go toward projects that benefit or serve low-income Californians and residents of low-income and disadvantaged communities. As of March 2026, more than 62 percent of Clean Transportation Program and supplemental funds have gone to projects in disadvantaged or low-income communities. Since the first investment plan was released in 2009, the Clean Transportation Program has achieved the following highlights:

• Installing or planning more than 52,000 charging ports, including about 41,000 lower-power charging ports and more than 11,000 DC fast charging ports.
• Funding more than 40 manufacturing projects that support in-state economic growth, ZEV manufacturing, ZEV components, and ZEV infrastructure.
• Funding more than 30 workforce training projects to help prepare workers for the clean transportation economy and provide the opportunity for good-paying jobs and expanded career employment pathways.
• Allocating funding to support the nation's largest network of hydrogen refueling stations, including over 100 stations for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles.

The Gold Standard for ZEV Infrastructure

Thanks to continued investments like the annual Clean Transportation Program Investment Plan, California now has 216,445 publicly available and shared EV charging ports across the state. Earlier this year, California surpassed 20,000 DC fast chargers, easing range anxiety for both short trips near home and long-haul travel along California's major transportation corridors. DC fast chargers offer substantially faster charging speeds, and continued advances in vehicle and charger technology have achieved even faster speeds.

California's growing number of publicly available EV chargers can be found at locations that are fully publicly accessible, like grocery stores, park-and-ride lots, and even gas stations, whereas shared chargers can be found at workplaces, doctors' offices, sports facilities, and other parking areas that may have some level of restricted access. This statewide network of public and shared chargers is in addition to the estimated 800,000 plus EV chargers installed at residential homes.

The CEC also continues to study EV charging infrastructure needs across the state, with the following planned for release later this year:

• The third Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Assessment, as mandated by Assembly Bill (AB) 2127, which will assess California's EV infrastructure needs to meet demand. 
• The first EV charging reliability report, as mandated by the new EV Charger Reliability Reporting and Standards Regulations.

In addition, recent ZEV incentive programs have launched statewide, including:

• Shoppers can get $3,500 off a new zero-emission vehicle or $1,750 off a used one right at the dealership as part of the MyFirstEV program, which the California Air Resources Board is administering.
• Low- and moderate- income drivers for rideshare companies can receive financial assistance to buy or lease ZEVs as part of the California Public Utilities Commission's Drivers Assistance Program, which is also known as Rideshare Incentives for Driving Electric.

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About the California Energy Commission
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency, leading the state to a 100 percent clean energy future for all. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, encouraging energy efficiency, certifying power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation, and preparing for energy emergencies.