Colorado's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure just got a significant boost, with the state securing an additional $12 million in federal funding for its fast-charging network. This final allotment rounds out the total received from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program to $56.5 million, as announced by Governor Jared Polis' administration this past Thursday. With EV registrations in Colorado now exceeding 200,000, these funds are seen as vital in maintaining the state's status as a frontrunner in the transition to electric mobility.
Gov. Polis has been unequivocal about his ambitions for Colorado as an EV leader, and the recent funding supports his administration's efforts. "When I said we were going to be one of the leading states for electric vehicles, I meant it," Gov. Polis said, as per the Colorado Governor's Office. He noted the convenience of the growing infrastructure, stating, "It’s no coincidence that more than 80% of Colorado’s highway system is now within 30 miles of a fast-charging station, complementing the high number of EV sales in our state," as obtained by the Colorado Governor's Office.
The Colorado Energy Office's (CEO) Direct Current Fast-Charging (DCFC) Plazas Grant Program is set to benefit from this funding, with an application round opening later in October to introduce an additional 100 fast-charging ports. Colorado's approach isn't just about expanding the network; it's also about strategic placement to support urban centers and rural communities alike. According to a statement from Shoshana Lew, director of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the goal is to instill confidence in consumers that an EV can take them anywhere in the state. "We want Coloradans to be confident that if they buy an EV in Colorado, they can travel anywhere they want in this state," Lew said, as noted by the Colorado Governor's Office.
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