Incentives and Funding Opportunities

Many state and federal grant programs exist to increase alternative transportation adoption.

The Drive Clean Colorado team of experts is here to provide individualized coaching and support for vehicle and infrastructure incentives and grant for fleets – contact us now for more information.

Jump to:

Vehicles

Jump to:

Transit

Jump to:

Infrastructure

Jump to:

School Buses

Jump to:

Other Opportunities

Vehicles

Commercial Clean Vehicle Tax Credit

  • Federal Tax Credit
  • Public and Private Fleets
  • Light, Medium, and Heavy Duty On-Road Vehicles
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric, Plug-In Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric
  • New vehicles

Available year-round (form is being finalized now)

Innovative Motor Vehicle & Truck Credits for Electric & Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

  • State of Colorado Tax Credit
  • Private Fleets with a tax liability
  • Light, medium, and heavy duty on-road vehicles
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric, Plug-In Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric

Available year-round (realized on tax return)

Clean Fleet Vehicle & Technology Grant

  • Colorado Clean Fleet Enterprise (Funding from SB260)
  • Available to all Colorado fleets
  • Class 2b – Class 8 On-Road Vehicles
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric, Fuel Cell Electric, Recovered Methane
  • New vehicles and Conversions
  • Vehicle Scrappage Optional
  • Program Guide Available

Closed. Future grant cycles TBD

Colorado Low Emission Vehicle Sales Tax Exemption

  • Exemption of State Sales and Use Tax
  • Available to all Colorado fleets
  • Vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric, Fuel Cell Electric, CNG and LPG
  • New Vehicles and Conversions
  • EPA certified parts are sales and use tax exempt for vehicle conversions over 26,000 pounds GVWR

Available year-round

Colorado Clean Diesel Program

  • Funding from Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)
  • Available to Colorado Fleets with Diesel Vehicles and/or Equipment
  • See Program Guide for List of Eligible Vehicles and Construction Equipment
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric, Plug-In Hybrid and Hybrid-Electric
  • Requires scrap vehicle

Open until funds are expended

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)

  • Funding from U.S. EPA
  • Public fleets, nonprofits
  • Class 5 8 Vehicles, School Buses, Locomotive Engines, Marine Engines, and Non-road Vehicles and Equipment
  • Diesel Emission reduction technologies designated on EPA website

Now open until December 1, 2023

Enterprise Zone Commercial Vehicle Investment Tax Credit

  • State of Colorado Tax Credit
  • Private fleets with a tax liability
  • Trucks over 54,000 pounds GVWR
  • All fuel types are eligible

Available year-round

Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program

  • Funding from U.S. EPA
  • Class 6 – 7 Vehicles 
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Electric 
  • Includes associated vehicle infrastructure and workforce development 

Notice of Funding Opportunity Expected in 2023 

Inflation Reduction Act

  • Clean Energy Tax Credits
  • Tax-exempt and governmental entities
  • Receive elective payments for 12 clean energy tax credits, as well as tax credits for electric vehicles and charging stations

Available year-round

Colorado State EV Tax Credit

  • State of Colorado Tax Credit
  • $5,000 for new EV purchases or leases with MSRP up to $80,000
  • Beginning January 1, 2024, EVs with an MSRP up to $35,000 will be eligible for an additional tax credit of $2,500.

Available year-round

Transit

Clean Transit Enterprise Grant

  • Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise (Funding from SB260)
  • Public Fleets
  • Supports public transit electrification planning efforts, facility upgrades, fleet motor vehicle replacement, as well as construction and development of electric motor vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure.
  • Fuel Types: Battery Electric, Fuel Cell Electric

Expected to open 2023

Low or No Emission (LO-NO) Program and Bus Facilities Program

  • Funding from the Federal Transit Administration
  • Total of $1.7 billion
  • Supports state and local efforts to transition to zero and low emission transit buses and infrastructure and workforce development.

Closed but will reopen in 2024

Infrastructure

Federal Alternative Fuel and Infrastructure Tax Credits

  • Tax credits for fueling infrastructure for E85, biodiesel, CNG, propane, and electricity, including residential.

Available year-round (realized on tax return)

Charge Ahead Colorado

  • State of Colorado grant for chargers
  • $6,000 to $12,500 for Level 2 Fleet Chargers

Now open through Oct 13, 2023

Contact a Coach!

DCFC Plazas Program

  • State of Colorado grant for Level 3 chargers
  • Up to 80% of project costs

Opening in Fall 2023 (Date TBD)

Fleet Zero-Emission Infrastructure Program

  • Colorado Energy Office grant for charging infrastructure to support light-, medium-, and heavy-duty fleets
  • Both public and depot charging will qualify
  • Rolling Applications for Qualifying Entities

Opens Oct 16, closes Dec 1, 2023

Community Access Enterprise Funding

  • Colorado Community Access Enterprise (Funding from SB260)
  • Supports the widespread adoption of electric motor vehicles, equitably invests in transportation infrastructure, and incentivizes the acquisition and use of electric motor vehicles and electric alternatives to motor vehicles.

Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program

  • Grant program for EV charging and alternative fuel infrastructure
  • Two funding categories: community charging and fueling grants (Community Program), alternative fuel corridor grants (Corridor Program)
  • $2.5 billion over five years
  • Priorities include rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, and multifamily units

Closed but will reopen in 2024

Utility Provider Programs

Available year-round

Inflation Reduction Act

  • Clean Energy Tax Credits
  • Tax-exempt and governmental entities
  • Receive elective payments for 12 clean energy tax credits, as well as tax credits for electric vehicles and charging stations

Available year-round

School Buses

Clean School Bus Funding

  • Funding from the EPA
  • Total of $5 billion between fiscal years 2022 and 2026
  • Funds the replacement of existing school buses with low- or zero-emission school buses (electric or propane)
  • Also may include funding to purchase charging and fueling infrastructure
  • DCC is assisting with a third-party application – reach out to emily@drivecleanco.org if you are interested in joining! 

Now closed, will reopen in 2024

Clean School Bus Program

  • Funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
  • Total of $65 million
  • Funds electric school buses and associated charging infrastructure

No longer open – change to NOFO expected soon

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)

  • Funding from U.S. EPA
  • School districts, nonprofits
  • Class 5 – 8
  • Diesel Emission reduction technologies designated on EPA website
  • Requires scrap vehicle

Now open through Nov 10, 2023

Other

Local Governments Electric Vehicle Readiness Planning Grants

  • Funding for local and county governments to develop EV readiness plans
  • Funding from the Colorado Energy Office
  • Prepare strategies and encourage community adoption of EVs

Expected to open Fall 2023 (date TBD)

Ride and Drive Electric Funding Opportunity

  • Under the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
  • $50 million
  • Supports the rapid transition to electrified transportation and catalyzes private sector investments in clean transportation

Closed, will reopen 2024

Clean Energy to Communities Program: In-Depth Partnerships

  • For communities needing assistance with a time-sensitive decision regarding clean energy goals.
  • Short-term assistance of 1-2 months.
  • Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy

Closed but will reopen in 2024

eCargo Bike Commercial Delivery Pilot Program

  • Under the Community Access Enterprise (CAE) in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO)
  • Provides funding for the development and implementation of eBike deployment projects in communities across Colorado

Closed. Future grant cycles TBD

Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Program Wide Funding Opportunity

  • Through the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) under the U.S. Department of Energy
  • Aid in the deployment of advanced technologies for both on- and off-road vehicle charging and infrastructure, innovative public transit solutions, and training

Closed, will open in 2024

Clean Energy to Communities Program – Peer Learning Cohorts

  • Financial and Technical Assistance for clean energy planning to benefit disadvantaged communities focused on planning & outreach.

Opened Sept 18, closing Oct 31, 2023

  • For local, county, Tribal governments, CBOs, nonprofits
  • Up to $75,000 under the Community Access Enterprise (CAE) in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO)
  • Grant funding to support community-led mobility programs that meet unique community needs and include an electric mobility component(s). Electric mobility refers to any type of transportation that relies partially or completely on electricity to power it.

Funding Phase 1: Technical Readiness Planning Grants now open through October 27, 2023

Community Access to Electric Bicycles Grant Program

  • For non-profit organizations, local governments, tribal governments, and other community-based organizations
  • Colorado Energy Office
  • The purpose of this grant program is to create e-bike programs that give e-bikes to low- and moderate-income Coloradans.

Coming Fall 2023

Make a difference

TAKE THE STAKEHOLDER PLEDGE!