Fleet Zero-Emission Resource Opportunity (Fleet-ZERO)

The Fleet-ZERO EV Charging Grant is administered by the Colorado Energy Office to support the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for fleet electrification projects throughout Colorado. The program is designed to reduce transportation-related emissions and improve air quality by accelerating the transition of light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty fleet vehicles and off-road equipment to electric technologies. The grant aligns with Colorado’s Clean Truck Strategy, statewide EV planning initiatives, and Community Access Enterprise priorities, all of which emphasize reducing pollution impacts in disproportionately impacted and low-income communities located near transportation corridors and industrial facilities. The program also seeks to reduce operational costs for fleet owners by supporting charging infrastructure that enables lower fuel and maintenance expenses over time. Funding is available for projects involving private depot charging, shared and semi-public fleet charging, and charging-as-a-service models. Eligible charging technologies include Level 2 charging equipment rated at 6 kW or higher as well as DC fast chargers across multiple power categories. The program provides incentive funding on a per-port basis, with maximum incentives ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 per charging port depending on charger type and power level. Enhanced incentive levels are available for qualifying entities, which can increase the amount awarded per port. Funding may be used for expenses directly related to the purchase and installation of charging equipment and infrastructure supporting eligible fleet EVs. Covered costs may also include required warranty coverage for a minimum of one year and networking or telematics software coverage for five years. Costs incurred before an executed grant agreement with the Colorado Energy Office are not eligible for reimbursement. Eligible applicants include businesses and industry entities, fleet charging providers, government and public institutions, independent contractors, nonprofit organizations, schools, transit agencies applying for non-transit fleet charging, and Tribal Governments and Entities. Enhanced incentives and scoring advantages are available for qualifying entities such as certified disadvantaged or minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, schools, and tribal entities. The program specifically excludes EV charging infrastructure intended for personal-use passenger vehicles, publicly available passenger charging primarily serving community or workplace charging, and charging for electric transit vehicles. Applicants seeking support for those project types are directed to alternative Colorado programs such as Charge Ahead Colorado or the Clean Transit Enterprise. The application process requires applicants to submit proposals through the Colorado Energy Office online application portal. Applications must be submitted by a direct representative from the organization that will own and operate the requested charging infrastructure. Applicants are instructed to review the official Application Guide prior to submission, particularly Sections 1 through 8, which contain eligibility rules, funding amounts, vendor requirements, and application instructions. Preparation documents in Word format are available for both the standard and rolling applications to assist applicants before entering information into the portal. The agency notes that long-form application responses are limited to 3,000 characters per question and that submitted applications cannot be edited after submission. Applications submitted via email or physical mail are not accepted. The grant program currently operates using two application formats. The standard application round is offered twice annually during spring and fall cycles, while a rolling application process remains open year-round for projects requesting $50,000 or less. The Spring 2026 standard application round opens on June 1, 2026 and closes on July 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time. During each standard round, a formal question and answer period is held during the first two weeks, allowing applicants to submit questions through the designated Q&A form. Public responses are posted after the Q&A period closes. An informational webinar and public Q&A session is scheduled for June 3, 2026. Standard application award notifications are estimated within 60 days after the round closes, while rolling application notifications are estimated within 30 days. The next standard application cycle is expected in Fall 2026, indicating that the program is recurring. Applications are evaluated competitively, with enhanced scoring consideration provided for qualifying entities and projects serving disproportionately impacted communities. Applicants are encouraged to leverage other local, utility, state, and federal incentives where permitted. However, Fleet-ZERO funding cannot be combined with other state grant funding for the same charging ports. Vendors participating in projects must meet minimum standards outlined in the Application Guide, and the Colorado Energy Office maintains a trained vendor list for reference. Applicants requiring technical guidance may also seek assistance from ReCharge Colorado coaching services regarding project scope, charging levels, and location planning. Program-related inquiries not addressed in the Application Guide may be directed to Matt Lerman, Senior Infrastructure Program Manager, via email at matt.lerman@state.co.us. The program webpage also provides contact support for portal-related technical issues through ceo_energysalesforce@state.co.us.

Prioritize projects benefiting disproportionately impacted communities and clearly demonstrate fleet electrification impact. Use the provided preparation documents before portal submission because applications cannot be edited after submission. Qualifying entities should emphasize eligibility for enhanced incentives and scoring advantages.