California investing $95M for more EV and hydrogen fueling stations - Orange County Register. California is pledging $95.2 million to build more electric-vehicle charging stations and hydrogen refueling sites across the state after seeing zero-emission car sales rebound in the first six months. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the funding Tuesday, Aug. 18 after the California Energy Commission approved it Monday as part of the state's clean transportation program. State officials said the goal is to make it easier for drivers to find places to charge or fuel zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs. The money will be spent during the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, with more money planned through the next year. Spokespersons for Newsom and the California Energy Commission, or CEC, weren't immediately available to comment on where in the state the charging stations would be constructed, the bidding process or how much money might come available in the next fiscal year. The state's announcement said that $48 million has been set aside for light-duty electric vehicle charging stations, $30.2 million for medium- and heavy-duty zero emission infrastructure - freight, port, public fleet and school buses - $15 million for hydrogen refueling and $2 million for ZEV workforce training and equipment. The state has seen a rebound in ZEV sales in the first six months of the year. In the quarter ending June 30, the CEC said consumers bought 86,857 ZEVs, marking a rebound to 19.1% of total new car sales after a slow first quarter. The sales figures include 75,597 battery EVs, 11,179 plug-in hybrids and 81 hydrogen fuel-cell cars. Total ZEV sales in the state have surpassed 2.7 million. One of the largest beneficiaries of the hydrogen fueling stations could be FirstElement Fuel Inc., a clean energy company founded in 2013. The Irvine-based company operates the True Zero network, which has stations across California, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Santa Clara counties, according to the CEC. The company already partners closely with the CEC on multi-million-dollar clean transportation grants to design, build and expand the hydrogen refueling infrastructure. FirstElement executives were not immediately available to comment on whether they'd apply for new funding from the state to build more hydrogen stations. Neither could executives with Rove, which has electric vehicle charging centers in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, nor Electrify America, an EV fast-charging network, be reached for comment on their interest in state grants to expand. Electrify America has opened up charging centers next to malls in San Francisco and San Diego. Newsom's office also said at least 50% of the program funds must go toward projects that benefit or serve low-income Californians and residents of low-income and disadvantaged communities. Newsom claimed that 62% of the clean transportation program and supplemental funds have gone to projects in disadvantaged or low-income communities. The ZEV and hydrogen funding builds on a Newsom-backed program announced in July that the state hopes will spark a turnaround in new and used EV car-buying with a rebate program, MyFirstEV.

Electrify America recognized for Sustainability Leadership by Business Intelligence Group. Aug 04, 2026, 09:15 ET Company receives 2026 Sustainability Award for EV education and workforce programs RESTON, Va., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Electrify America today received a 2026 Sustainability Award from the Business Intelligence Group in the Sustainability Leadership category. The award recognizes organizations that are turning sustainability commitments into measurable results. Electrify America was recognized for its $7.4 million investment in community-led programs that helped expand equitable access to electric vehicles (EV) across the U.S. in 2025. This investment delivered EV education programs directly to communities impacted by poor air quality and economic inequity, helping make electric mobility accessible and attainable for more drivers. "This recognition underscores our belief that sustainability and accessibility go hand in hand," said Robert Barrosa, President and CEO of Electrify America. "Through investments in community-led programs and workforce development, we're helping remove barriers to EV adoption, connect more people with the benefits of EVs, and build the EV workforce of the future. We're grateful to our community partners and proud of the progress we've made together to help drivers confidently make the switch to EVs." Programs funded by Electrify America's investment included on-the-ground community engagement, as well as longer-term workforce and STEM development efforts: * Valley Clean Air Now brought ride-and-drive events, incentive paperwork support, and dealership visits to communities in California, supporting more than 2,700 EV purchases. * Charge Across Town reached nearly 2,500 EV-curious participants, driving a 26% increase in positive EV perception, with 87% saying they'd consider an EV after a test drive. * East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition partnered with colleges on ride-and-drive events to reach more than 3,000 attendees, with many experiencing an EV for the first time. * Drive Electric Long Island worked with dealerships to improve the buying experience, contributing to a 23% increase in EVs on the road across its region. * Ecology Action engaged 2,600+ EV-curious individuals, completing 129 EV purchases and leases through direct guidance. * Plug In America engaged nearly 58,000 EV-curious participants through education efforts. * Sinclair Community College trained emergency first responders on how to respond to EV-related incidents. * Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator developed a Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems curriculum, helping participants transition into green energy careers. "Electrify America's investment has been foundational to Ecology Action's work. It allowed us, with our partners, to scale trusted, community-based education and create hands-on experiences to turn curiosity into action," said Kalia Vaught, Senior Program Specialist at Ecology Action. "Just as important, it gave us the ability to meet people where they are, providing personalized, one-on-one support that helps turn interest into real purchases for families who may have otherwise felt excluded in the EV transition." The full list of organizations supported by Electrify America's $7.4 million community investment includes: "Electrify America understands that the transition to electric mobility only works if it works for everyone," said Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer at the Business Intelligence Group. "By investing directly in community-based organizations and bringing EV education into neighborhoods hit hardest by poor air quality and economic inequity, they're closing a gap that too many EV strategies overlook." Figures reflect a selection of participating organizations and are not representative of the full scope of Electrify America's 2025 community investment portfolio. About Electrify America Electrify America LLC, one of the largest DC fast charging networks in the U.S., is investing more than $2 billion in Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and access. The investment enables millions of Americans to charge with confidence and discover the benefits of electric driving on our coast-to-coast network of highway and community chargers. Electrify America's Hyper-Fast network currently operates in 47 states and the District of Columbia, supporting increasing ZEV adoption with a network that is convenient, technologically advanced, and built for customers. Your Network, Powered by Electrify America delivers turnkey DC fast charging solutions for businesses and franchise owners. SOURCE Electrify America, LLC

Illinois holds ribbon cutting ceremony for first NEVI charging station. The Illinois Department of Transportation recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony in Casey to celebrate the state's first charging station built through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. The department had awarded Phillips 66, in collaboration with Meyer Oil and Electrify America, a $854,641 NEVI grant to build four DC fast chargers at the Mach 1 station on Illinois 49 near Interstate 70. The chargers were electrified the week of July 13. Stations in other locations will come online later this summer. "These new chargers are an important step forward in making the governor's EV goals a reality, while creating economic opportunity by connecting Illinois communities to a national network of stations," Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said. "Some of the strongest interest we're seeing for electric vehicle charging is coming from rural areas that see the benefit of having travelers stop in their towns to charge up and spend their dollars at local stores and businesses. We look forward to adding many more throughout the state in the weeks and months ahead." The department recently awarded $23.5 million to 29 projects during the third round of NEVI funding. The grants will facilitate the construction of 140 charging ports.