Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnerships Grant

The Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnerships grant is a competitive funding opportunity administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation through its Office of Innovative Partnerships. The program is designed to expand access to clean transportation infrastructure by supporting the deployment of electric vehicle charging systems along designated state corridors. Funded through Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, the initiative is part of a broader statewide strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health outcomes, and accelerate the transition to zero-emission transportation systems. The program emphasizes public-private partnerships and requires collaboration between eligible applicants and private sector entities to ensure long-term sustainability and operational success. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the installation and upgrade of direct-current fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. Projects must be located within one travel mile of a Washington state route and must include a minimum of four networked charging ports capable of delivering at least 150 kW simultaneously. The program is focused on improving charging availability along priority corridors to support regional and intercity travel. Funding can be used for a wide range of project costs including design, permitting, construction, equipment procurement, installation, maintenance agreements, and network operations. However, costs related to real estate acquisition, electricity usage, and compliance with pre-existing regulatory requirements are not eligible for reimbursement. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, government entities at the state, local, or tribal level, and other public entities. All applicants must partner with a private sector organization that contributes to the project and derives indirect value from its development. Applicants must either own the project site or secure a site host agreement for at least five years. Projects must be publicly accessible, operational 24 hours a day, and maintained for a minimum of five years after installation. In addition, applicants are required to meet a minimum match contribution of 20 percent of the total allowable project cost, which may be provided through cash or in-kind contributions. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal in either Microsoft Word or PDF format directly to the designated grant manager via email. Applications must include certifications, organizational and project information, a detailed budget, and responses to evaluation criteria. Evaluation criteria include team experience, charging infrastructure gaps, utility coordination, site readiness, accessibility to amenities, and community impact metrics such as median household income and benefits to overburdened communities. Applications are first screened for administrative eligibility and then scored based on technical merit, with funding awarded to the highest-ranking proposals until available funds are exhausted. The timeline for the current funding cycle begins with the grant announcement on November 26, followed by a webinar for prospective applicants, a question submission period, and the publication of responses to applicant inquiries. The final application deadline is February 12, with notice of proposed awards expected by February 27. Grant agreements are anticipated to be finalized by March 31, and all funded projects must submit final reimbursement requests by June 30 of the biennium period. Awardees are required to submit quarterly progress reports during implementation and annual utilization reports for five years following project completion. Program administration includes strict compliance requirements related to reporting, financial documentation, and operational performance. Awardees must maintain at least 97 percent uptime for charging ports and adhere to technical standards, accessibility requirements, and cybersecurity protocols. The program also prioritizes investments in overburdened communities and tribal areas, with statutory goals to ensure equitable distribution of benefits. Applicants may contact the program’s grant manager for all official communications, and all inquiries must be submitted in writing to ensure consistency and transparency in the application process.

Focus on demonstrating charging gaps, strong utility coordination, and secured site agreements to maximize scoring