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The California Energy Commission on Wednesday approved a $1.4 billion investment plan to bolster zero-emission transportation in the state, including the installation of nearly 17,000 new electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure of hydrogen recharging. Funds will be distributed to projects over the next four years through competitive grants.
California has about 152,000 shared public and private chargers installed today, and expects that number to reach 250,000 “in the coming years,” the CEC said. Another half a million private home chargers are also being installed in the state.
The approval of the investment plan “reaffirms California’s commitment to funding emissions-free refueling infrastructure,” said Patty Monahan, the CEC’s chief transportation commissioner. “The plan prioritizes the benefits of clean air in low-income and disadvantaged communities that need it most,” he 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 lacking the 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 historically neglected neighborhoods,” Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, said in a statement. “With this investment and help from the private sector, we’re building a bigger and better vehicle charging network that ensures Californians can get where they’re going reliably and affordably.”
Electric vehicle sales are increasing across the country, thanks to federal purchase incentives. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated he wants to eliminate the tax credit for electric vehicles, but he may face resistance. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major US automakers, in October lobbied Congress to keep the credits.
In California, Newsom has said that if Trump eliminates the purchase incentive, the state will propose creating a new version of its clean vehicle rebate program, which was phased out in 2023 but helped fund more of 594,000 vehicle purchases and leases.
Sales of electric vehicles accounted for nearly 9 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales in the third quarter of this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Dec. 4.
