EV Charging Incentives, Funding & Compliance in Colorado (2026)
Colorado's EV charging funding blends federal NEVI flowing through the Colorado DOT, state and local charging programs, and a strong base of utility EV rebates across its investor-owned and rural-utility system. Colorado is a NASPO ValuePoint participating addendum state, so public agencies can generally buy ZEF chargers through the cooperative contract without running a solicitation. Colorado is also a plaintiff state in the federal CFI grant litigation, which matters for agencies holding executed CFI awards.
Speak To An ExpertColorado incentive programs
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program — Colorado
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) · Federal formula funding (Title 23)
NEVI federal formula apportioned to Colorado; federal share up to 80% of eligible project costs. Verify current apportionment and open solicitation rounds with CDOT.
Site hosts, charging providers, and public entities applying through CDOT solicitations
Deadline: Per CDOT solicitation round · Status: Active — verify current round status with CDOT
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →City and County of Denver — Solar and EV Charging for Nonprofits
City and County of Denver · Grant
Verify current grant amounts and eligibility with the City and County of Denver
Denver nonprofit organizations installing solar and/or EV charging
Deadline: Per application cycle — verify with Denver · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Feb 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →Utility programs in Colorado
Black Hills Energy — Ready EV Electric Vehicle Charging Rebate
Black Hills Energy (Colorado) · Utility rebate
Verify current EV charging rebate amounts and eligible models with Black Hills Energy
Black Hills Energy electric customers installing EVSE
Deadline: Verify with Black Hills Energy · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Jun 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →San Isabel Electric Association — Electric Vehicle Charger Rebates
San Isabel Electric Association · Utility rebate
Verify current EV charger rebate with San Isabel Electric Association
San Isabel Electric Association customers
Deadline: Verify with San Isabel Electric Association · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Jun 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →Holy Cross Energy — EV Charger Incentives
Holy Cross Energy · Utility incentive
Verify current EV charger incentive amounts with Holy Cross Energy
Holy Cross Energy electric customers
Deadline: Verify with Holy Cross Energy · Status: Active (DSIRE last updated Jun 2025)
Program source (verified 2026-08-31) →How to buy ZEF equipment in Colorado
Browse ZEF’s Level 2 and DC fast chargers, or talk to ZEF about the right purchasing route for your Colorado project.
Compliance requirements in Colorado
Colorado is a CFI plaintiff state
Colorado amended the March 2026 litigation challenging the federal withholding of CFI (Charging and Fueling Infrastructure) grants, so Colorado agencies holding executed CFI awards should confirm their award status in writing with FHWA before obligating local funds. NEVI is separate and continues to flow through the Colorado DOT. source
Common funding-attached requirements that apply when federal money is involved:
- Buy America & Build America, Buy America (BABA) — Any EV charging project using federal funds: FHWA money (NEVI, CFI, other federal-aid) triggers FHWA Buy America; other federal financial assistance used for infrastructure triggers BABA.
- NEVI Minimum Standards (23 CFR Part 680) — EV charging infrastructure funded under the NEVI program or with other Title 23 federal-aid highway funds. Does not attach to EPA or purely state/utility funding.
Recommended ZEF products for Colorado
- ZEF Level 2 chargers with ZEFNET — For utility EV rebate projects (Black Hills Energy, San Isabel, Holy Cross) and metro fleet, workplace, and multifamily sites — ETL-listed, OCPP 1.6/2.0.1 and OpenADR 2.0b.
- ZEF DC fast chargers with ZEFNET — For NEVI corridor and public-charging projects funded through the Colorado DOT — ETL-listed, with ZEFNET supporting the § 680.108 protocol stack (OCPP 1.6/2.0.1, ISO 15118, OCPI 2.2.1); ask ZEF for project-specific conformance and Buy America documentation.
See full specifications at zefenergy.com/products, and estimate project economics with ZEF’s payback calculator.
Get notified when Colorado charging programs change
One email when a verified program opens, closes, or changes — nothing else.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Colorado public agency buy ZEF chargers without running a solicitation?
Yes — ZEF is an awarded supplier on the NASPO ValuePoint EV Charging Station Equipment & Services portfolio, and Colorado is a participating addendum state, so most state agencies and political subdivisions can purchase through the contract. Confirm any subdivision-specific adoption steps with your procurement office.
Do Colorado utilities rebate EV chargers?
Yes — Black Hills Energy, San Isabel Electric Association, Holy Cross Energy, and Gunnison County Electric all offer EVSE and Level 2 charger rebates. ZEF's ETL-listed, OCPP-compliant chargers meet the open-protocol requirements these programs typically impose — verify current amounts and eligible models with your utility.
Does ZEF meet the NEVI charging protocol requirements in Colorado?
ZEF chargers are ETL-listed and the ZEFNET platform supports OCPP 1.6, OCPP 2.0.1, ISO 15118, OpenADR 2.0b, and OCPI 2.2.1 — the charger-to-EV, charger-to-network, and network-to-network protocols 23 CFR 680.108 requires for NEVI-funded chargers. For a NEVI project funded through CDOT, ask ZEF for project-specific conformance documentation.
Is Colorado's CFI money still available?
Colorado is a plaintiff challenging the federal withholding of CFI grants (the suit was amended in March 2026). Agencies with executed CFI awards should confirm status with FHWA. NEVI is separate and continues through CDOT.
What standing requirements apply to a public charger in Colorado?
Electrical code and NRTL (ETL) listing, ADA-accessible siting (the site owner's design responsibility), and any state weights-and-measures rules where you sell charging by the kWh. NEVI/CFI-funded projects additionally carry the 23 CFR 680 minimum standards and Buy America.
Get help winning Colorado funding
ZEF has helped 80+ utility partners and 200+ cities and agencies fund, buy, and deploy compliant EV charging. Bring us your project and funding questions.
Speak To An Expert Or email solutions@zefenergy.com · call 1-888-493-3638