Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles)

On July 27, 2020, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released a grant solicitation and application package (GFO-20-603) entitled “Block Grant for Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Refueling Infrastructure Incentive Projects” under the Clean Transportation Program. This grant solicitation was to seek a block grant Recipient to design and implement various medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) refueling infrastructure incentive projects throughout California. CALSTART, Inc. (CALSTART) was awarded the agreement at the CEC’s March 2021 Business Meeting.

In April 2021, the CEC announced “Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles)”, a first-of-its-kind project that will provide funding for electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure for zero-emission trucks, buses, and equipment in California. This project will leverage large amounts of funding in order to rapidly deploy ZEV infrastructure for MD/HD ZEVs in a streamlined manner to address critical barriers and gaps to the deployment of MD/HD ZEV infrastructure.

EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles has been designed to speed up the deployment and installations of MD/HD ZEV infrastructure in order to provide more accessible and reliable electric charging and hydrogen refueling options, which are critical for accommodating future MD/HD ZEV fleets. EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles will help achieve the ambitious goals set by Executive Order N-79-20, signed in September 2020, which requires 100% of MD/HD vehicles in the state to be zero-emission by 2045, where feasible.

EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles will address gaps and reduce barriers to the deployment of MD/HD ZEV infrastructure throughout the state, speed up the deployment and installations of necessary electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling stations for fleet use, and will enable targeted infrastructure incentive deployment to disadvantaged communities (per CalEnviroScreen 4.0), low-income communities (per AB 1550), California Native American tribes, and other underserved communities in California to assist in meeting the state’s goals.

EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles began accepting applications in early 2022. CEC staff continues to work with CALSTART to evaluate and set eligibility and funding requirements for infrastructure equipment through a stakeholder engagement process.

There are four standard funding lanes within EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles, each designed and intended to target different audiences: 

• EV Fast Track Funding Lane (first-come, first-served): Intended for applicants/commercial fleets who have a zero-emission vehicle in the fleet or have a purchase order, and need funding for the necessary charging infrastructure.
• Hydrogen Funding Lane (competitive): Intended for commercial fleets or station owners seeking to deploy hydrogen refueling infrastructure for MD/HD zero-emission vehicles. 
• EV Jump Start Funding Lane (competitive): Intended for applicants/fleet users located in a disadvantaged or low-income communities, and who meet other equity criteria. This lane provides a longer application window for applicants as well as technical assistance.
• EV Public Charging Lane (competitive): Intended for applicants interested in deploying publicly accessible charging infrastructure for battery-electric MD/HD vehicles. 

EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles will continue to release additional carve-out infrastructure funding lanes specifically targeting drayage trucks, school buses, and transit buses as fleets continue to transition to zero-emission.

For more information or questions, please contact energiize@energy.ca.gov or infrastructure@calstart.org.