With the most zero-emissions vehicles on the road and the country's first electric school bus, California's new competitive grant program will significantly augment its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.

A big part of that is making even more charging stations available. The California Energy Commission (CEC) began soliciting for a $6 million grant program this month that will fund the construction of charging stations across the state. Applicants have until Jan. 28 to file proposals.

California, which already has nearly 1,500 charging stations, is offering the grant funds in four categories. About two-thirds of the $6 million available will support a single site or combination of destination, corridor or workplace charging. Destinations include attractions or shopping centers, while corridor charging would be ideal for long drives along the state's coast.

"Examples [of corridor charging] include charging locations that would allow drivers of electric vehicles to more rapidly travel between San Diego and the Los Angeles area, the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, Sacramento and Fresno, etc.," according to the CEC.

The grant funding originates from California's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology (ARFVT) program, which was made possible by the 2007 passing of Assembly Bill 118. According to the CEC, the ARFVT program has an annual budget of about $100 million. The funding is meant to:

• Reduce California’s use and dependence on petroleum transportation fuels and increase the use of alternative and renewable fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. 
• Produce sustainable alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels in California.
• Expand alternative fueling infrastructure and fueling stations.
• Improve the efficiency, performance and market viability of alternative light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle technologies.
• Retrofit medium- and heavy-duty on-road and non-road vehicle fleets to alternative technologies or fuel use.
• Expand the alternative fueling infrastructure available to existing fleets, public transit and transportation corridors.
• Establish workforce training programs and conduct public outreach on the benefits of alternative transportation fuels and vehicle technologies.

Visit EcoWatch’s TRANSPORTATION page for more related news on this topic.