Through legislation and Executive Orders, California committed to reducing emissions in the transportation sector through the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) ranging from passenger cars to heavy-duty trucks. To support widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), California is striving to meet a deployment of 250,000 public and shared private electric vehicle chargers by 2025 and forecasts the need for 1.2 million by 2030. This target includes public chargers that are available at parks, shopping centers, hotels, public buildings, etc., and shared private electric vehicles, such as those found at workplaces and multi-unit dwellings. As of March 31, 2022, California has achieved almost a third of the target.

Readily available charging infrastructure is a key component to the adoption of electric vehicles. Electric vehicle drivers, especially those with access to only one vehicle, need to be able to drive to the same places that they drove to in gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles. Access to electric vehicle chargers needs to be available to all drivers, including those in disadvantaged, low-income, Tribal, and rural communities. EV adoption is growing rapidly and charging infrastructure needs to meet the demand.

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which included significant funding to advance ZEV infrastructure in the form of formula and discretionary grant funding. California’s share from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program is estimated at $384 million over 5 years. California agencies and communities will also be eligible to apply for additional funding as part of the $2.5 billion discretionary Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant program.