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    California Energy Commission · CALeVIP

    CALeVIP Rebates: How to Claim Up to $80,000 per Fast Charger

    CALeVIP is California's flagship EV charger rebate program — up to $80K per DC fast charger and $7,500 per Level 2 port, depending on your county and disadvantaged community status.

    Quick Answer

    CALeVIP pays California commercial property owners up to $80,000 per DC fast charger (or $7,500 per Level 2 port) as a post-install rebate. Funding is region-specific and first-come, first-served. Reserve funds before installing.

    Category

    State

    Max Award

    Up to $80,000 per DC fast charger; up to $7,500 per Level 2 port

    Funding Type

    Rebate (post-installation)

    Timeline

    Reservation in 2–6 weeks; rebate paid 30–60 days after install

    Administrator: California Energy Commission · CALSTART (implementation)Status: Open by region — first-come, first-served until funds exhausted

    Program Overview

    CALeVIP, administered by the California Energy Commission and implemented by CALSTART, is the largest state-level EV charger rebate program in the country. Rounds are released by region (Central Coast, Inland Counties, Northern California, etc.) and run until allocated funds are exhausted.

    Unlike NEVI, CALeVIP works for properties of all sizes. A single Level 2 port at a small office or apartment building qualifies, as do multi-port DC fast chargers at shopping centers. Bonus rebates of 25–50% are available for properties in disadvantaged communities (CalEnviroScreen 4.0 top 25%) and for multifamily housing serving low-income residents.

    The critical detail most applicants miss: you must reserve funds BEFORE installing equipment. Installing first and applying later disqualifies you. Always check active rounds at calevip.org before signing equipment contracts.

    Funding Details

    DC fast charger base rebate$30,000 – $80,000 per charger (region-dependent)
    Level 2 base rebate$3,500 – $7,500 per port (region-dependent)
    DAC bonusAdditional 25% for disadvantaged community sites
    Low-income multifamily bonusUp to 50% additional rebate
    Maximum per siteTypically capped at $400K–$800K depending on round

    Eligibility

    • Project must be located in an active CALeVIP funding region
    • Equipment must be on the CEC-approved Calibrated Charger List
    • Site must be open to the public, employees, tenants, or fleet (depending on round)
    • Funds must be reserved BEFORE installation begins
    • Site host must commit to 5-year operation
    • Networked chargers required (with payment processing for public sites)

    Best For

    Multifamily housing · Workplaces · Retail centers · Restaurants · Hotels

    How to Apply for CALeVIP

    Estimated timeline: Reservation in 2–6 weeks; rebate paid 30–60 days after install

    1. 1

      Check active rounds for your region

      Visit calevip.org and confirm your county has an open funding round. If your region is not active, monitor the site for the next round announcement — they fill quickly when launched.

    2. 2

      Verify your site qualifies

      Confirm the property type (public, workplace, multifamily, fleet) matches the round's eligibility. Run the address through CalEnviroScreen 4.0 to determine DAC bonus eligibility.

    3. 3

      Select equipment from the Calibrated Charger List

      Only chargers on the CEC-approved list qualify. Submit your equipment selection before signing a purchase order — you cannot retroactively swap models.

    4. 4

      Reserve funds via the CALeVIP portal

      Submit the reservation application with site address, equipment specs, and project budget. Approval typically takes 2–6 weeks. Funds are held for 18 months.

    5. 5

      Install and commission chargers

      Use a qualified electrical contractor. Chargers must be networked, operational, and commissioned within the reservation window.

    6. 6

      Submit final rebate paperwork

      Upload commissioning report, paid invoices, photos, and warranty documentation. Rebate is paid 30–60 days after CALSTART verification.

    Stacking with Other Programs

    CALeVIP IS stackable with the federal 30C tax credit, utility make-ready programs (SCE Charge Ready, PG&E EV Charge Network), and SCAQMD/BAAQMD air district incentives. The combined stack frequently covers 70–90% of total project cost. CALeVIP CANNOT be combined with NEVI on the same equipment.

    Common Mistakes That Disqualify Applications

    • Installing equipment before reserving funds — automatic disqualification
    • Selecting chargers not on the Calibrated Charger List
    • Missing the 18-month commissioning window
    • Failing to maintain networked status for the 5-year operation period

    Frequently Asked Questions

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    Related Incentive Programs

    Federal

    NEVI

    Up to 80% of project costs (typically $1M–$2.5M per site)

    Federal

    30C Tax Credit

    30% of equipment cost, up to $100,000 per single charging port

    Utility

    SCE Charge Ready

    100% of make-ready electrical infrastructure (typically $50K–$200K per site)

    Utility

    PG&E EV Charge Network

    100% of make-ready costs + per-port rebates up to $9,500

    Utility

    SDG&E Power Your Drive

    100% of make-ready + significant equipment rebates

    Air District

    SCAQMD

    Up to $80,000 per DC fast charger; $5,000 per Level 2 port