EV Charging Infrastructure Grant

The EV Charging Infrastructure Grant is administered by the City of Charlottesville through its Office of Sustainability and supported by the Climate Protection Program. Originally launched in 2013 as a mini grant initiative, the program was updated and relaunched in 2023 to reflect evolving electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure needs. The program is designed to expand the availability of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city, particularly in areas that support commercial activity and tourism. By partnering with private property owners, the City aims to build a reliable and visible network of charging infrastructure that encourages EV usage and supports local economic activity. The primary purpose of the grant is to share the cost of purchasing and installing EV charging equipment on privately owned, non residential properties that are open to the public. The funding focuses specifically on Level II chargers and DC fast chargers, with the City reimbursing up to one third of eligible project costs. Eligible expenses are limited to equipment purchase, site design, and installation. Operational and maintenance costs are explicitly excluded, reinforcing that the program is intended to support capital development rather than ongoing operations. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, requiring applicants to complete installation and provide documentation before receiving funds. Eligibility is restricted to private property owners within Charlottesville city limits who operate commercial, business, or mixed use sites with publicly accessible parking. Charging stations must be available to the general public without restrictive access, with preference given to locations that do not require membership or registration. Sites must be located near commercial or tourist activity centers, ideally within walking distance of retail, restaurant, or tourism related destinations. Additional requirements include clear designation of EV only parking spaces, listing the charging station on public EV locator databases, and maintaining the charging service for a minimum of three years. The application process is informal and operates on a rolling basis as long as funding remains available. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Climate Protection Program to initiate the process and obtain application materials. Submission requires documentation of project plans, including location details, accessibility, pricing structure, and intended listing on EV charging databases. Because funding is reimbursed, applicants must also demonstrate the ability to finance upfront costs and comply with city permitting requirements before reimbursement is issued. Applications are evaluated by the City based on how well proposed projects align with program goals. Key evaluation criteria include the quality of the project plan, the accessibility of the proposed charging station, and the extent to which the project contributes to building a permanent and strategically distributed network of EV infrastructure. The City retains full discretion in awarding grants and may choose to fund multiple applicants or none at all. Priority is implicitly given to projects that maximize public benefit and visibility while supporting local economic activity. Funding limits are clearly defined. Each applicant may request up to five grants, with no more than four grants per property, and total funding capped at twenty thousand dollars per applicant. Individual charger funding is capped at four thousand dollars for Level II chargers and ten thousand dollars for DC fast chargers, each representing up to one third of eligible costs. The program does not specify a fixed total program budget or number of awards, as grants are distributed based on available funding and application quality. The program does not specify a fixed application deadline, recurrence cycle, or award notification timeline. Instead, it remains continuously open until funds are depleted. This flexible structure allows the City to adapt to changing demand and funding availability while encouraging ongoing participation from eligible property owners. For additional information or to begin the application process, applicants must contact the Climate Protection Program directly.

Ensure charger locations are highly accessible and near commercial activity centers prioritize public usability and visibility demonstrate strong project plan supporting citywide EV network goals