CDOT reports major progress in EV charging; NEVI pipeline and buy‑America uncertainty remain

Colorado Department of Transportation staff briefed STACK on April 2 about electric‑vehicle adoption and charging investments, saying statewide coverage of DC fast charging within a 30‑mile driving distance rose from roughly 40% in 2020 to about 82% as of March 2026.

Michael King, who gave the update, summarized several ongoing grant programs: Charge Ahead Colorado (level‑2 and workplace charging), Fleet Zero (fleet‑focused charging behind the fence), and the state’s NEVI/DCFC Plazas implementation using federal NEVI funding plus state and enterprise funds. King said NEVI awards are moving and that round nine of the Plazas program will have a request for applications: “The request for applications for round nine is going to be released later this month,” he said.

Program status and numbers: staff reported about 207,000 registered zero‑emission vehicles in Colorado (roughly 154,000 battery electric vehicles) and that NEVI‑funded DCFC sites are coming online — 12 NEVI locations opened in 2025 and 26 additional sites are actively being developed. The department also highlighted a scenic and historic byway electrification program (20 of 26 byways designated) to help rural tourism and visitor access.

Federal policy risks: staff summarized recent legal and regulatory developments around NEVI. In 2025 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) paused obligation of some NEVI funds, prompting legal action by several states; guidance changes later restarted implementation for states that met updated requirements. More recently FHWA proposed raising domestic content requirements for EV charging equipment; the department warned that a proposed jump to 100% U.S. content would effectively block federal spending on chargers because no fully domestic chargers exist today.

Why it matters: CDOT staff framed charging access as a primary driver of EV adoption and said targeted incentives will focus remaining funding on priority gaps (eastern plains, southeast Colorado, the San Luis Valley and northwest Colorado). The department also described the Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) funding for transit electrification ($350 million FY26–29 formula funding estimates cited for transit agencies) and observed that transit electrification faces supply and funding challenges even as demand outpaces available CTE funds.

Ending: CDOT will continue NEVI and Plaza rounds, prioritize funding for network gaps, and coordinate with local site hosts and the Colorado Tourism Office for byway projects. The department urged applicants to plan now for upcoming competitive windows.