Fleet Zero-Emission Resource Opportunity (Fleet-ZERO)

The Fleet-ZERO EV Charging Grant is administered by the Colorado Energy Office to support the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for fleet vehicles across Colorado. This grant is part of the state’s broader strategy to reduce transportation-related emissions, especially in communities disproportionately affected by pollution. The program aligns with Colorado’s Clean Truck Strategy and Community Access Enterprise goals by helping fleet operators transition to electric vehicles, thereby improving air quality and reducing operating costs associated with fuel and maintenance. The program offers funding for EV charging infrastructure designed to support light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electric fleet vehicles. Both private and public entities are eligible to apply, including businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, tribal governments, independent contractors, and public institutions. Two application tracks are available: a standard application round, which opens biannually in spring and fall, and a rolling application track for smaller funding requests, which is open year-round to qualifying entities. Funding from the program may be used for the purchase and installation of EV charging equipment, associated infrastructure, and costs related to meeting the required one-year warranty and five-year networking coverage for awarded stations. However, projects focused on personal vehicles, public or workplace charging, and transit vehicle charging are not eligible under this grant and are directed to other programs such as Charge Ahead Colorado or Clean Transit Enterprise. The grant offers enhanced incentives for qualifying entities, such as reduced minimum matching requirements (from 20% to 10%), higher funding per port, priority in scoring, and eligibility for year-round rolling applications up to $50,000. Qualifying entities include certified disadvantaged-, minority-, women-, small-, and veteran-owned businesses, as well as nonprofits, schools, tribal entities, and government agencies. Applicants must submit their applications through the online portal after reviewing the full Application Guide. Standard applications are limited to 3,000 characters per long format question and cannot be edited after submission. The next standard application window runs from May 12 to July 11, 2025, with a Q&A period from May 12 to May 23. Responses to Q&A will be posted by May 30. An informational webinar, co-hosted with ReCharge Colorado, is scheduled for May 20, 2025, to provide further guidance. For questions not addressed in the Application Guide, applicants can contact Matt Lerman, Infrastructure Program Manager, via email at matt.lerman@state.co.us. Award announcements for the spring 2025 application cycle are anticipated by September 2025, while rolling application decisions are expected within 30 days of submission.