Charge Ahead Colorado

The Charge Ahead Colorado Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Grant is administered by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and is designed to promote the adoption of electric vehicles by supporting the deployment of EV charging infrastructure across the state. This state-funded program aims to serve a broad array of applicants including businesses, government institutions, nonprofit organizations, multifamily housing operators, and tribal entities, prioritizing access in disproportionately impacted communities. The program offers three distinct application lanes. The Standard and Multifamily Housing (MFH) Portfolio applications are open during three application rounds each year, while the Rolling Application remains open year-round for smaller projects seeking up to six Level 2 charging ports. In 2025, the May application round runs from May 12 to June 13, with the next round scheduled for September. A formal Q&A period occurs during the first week of each standard round, and awards for the May round are anticipated by August 2025. The Colorado Energy Office also hosts an informational webinar each round, with the next webinar on May 13, 2025. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as businesses, non-profits, tribal governments, public and government institutions, and charging station developers who will own and operate the equipment. Enhanced incentives, including reduced match requirements and prioritization in scoring, are offered to qualifying entities such as minority-owned businesses, schools, libraries, and other community-serving organizations. Projects completed prior to application and grant agreement execution are not eligible for funding. Awarded grants may be used for the purchase and installation of EV charging equipment and associated infrastructure. Covered costs include a mandatory one-year warranty and five-year networking coverage. Projects must meet the U.S. Access Board’s accessibility standards and cannot serve single-family homes, deeded parking spaces, or be primarily intended for fleet vehicles. Such fleet-focused applicants are directed to the CEO’s Fleet-ZERO program. Application submission is entirely online through the CEO’s application portal. Word-formatted preparation documents are available to aid applicants, but applications must be submitted electronically by a representative of the entity that will own and operate the charging stations. There is a strict 3,000-character limit and a 150-word minimum for long-form questions. The CEO does not accept emailed or mailed applications, and submissions cannot be edited once submitted. For further questions, applicants can contact Program Manager Mika Burdette via email at mika.burdette@state.co.us or for portal issues, use ceo_energysalesforce@state.co.us. Additional support is available via the CEO Office Hours or local ReCharge Colorado coaches. The CEO maintains a trained vendor list, although it does not endorse specific vendors.