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DEC Announces Funding Now Available for Electric
Vehicles and Charging Stations for Municipalities
Published: October 18, 2025
at 12:30 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Announces Funding Now Available for Electric
Vehicles and Charging Stations for Municipalities
Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure
Grant and ZEV Rebate Programs Advance Transition to Electric Transportation
and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the next
round of the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Grant
program and the Municipal ZEV Rebate program are now open for applications.
A total of $5 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and
$585,000 for municipalities to purchase electric vehicles for fleet use are
available. The funding advances New York’s climate efforts to reduce
emissions through supporting electric vehicle adoption and expansion in
municipalities across the State.
“Under Governor
Kathy Hochul, New York is continuing to lead to reduce pollution from the
transportation sector and improve the health and quality of life for
residents,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “While
the federal government continues to rollback funding, and support for
climate action and federal tax credits for electric vehicle purchases
expire at the end of September, New York’s ZEV
programs continue to provide critical support to municipalities to make it
more affordable to green their fleets, reduce fuel costs, decrease
emissions, and save taxpayers money.”
ZEV
Infrastructure Grant Program
A total of $5
million for municipalities is available on a first-come, first-served basis
through the Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant program to support the
installation of Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle chargers, in addition
to hydrogen filling station components. DEC is accepting applications
through 4 p.m. on February 27, 2026, available through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) under the
name “2025 Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grants.”
The local match
requirement for funding varies based on the municipality’s median household
income (MHI) and whether the ZEV infrastructure is located within a
disadvantaged community (DAC). If located in a DAC,
no match is required, regardless of the municipality’s MHI.
More information
can be found in the request for applications (RFA) document posted on DEC’s website. Please note, the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Charge Ready Program and the DEC ZEV
Infrastructure Grant program cannot be used together for the same
installation.
Since the
inception of the Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant program in 2016, DEC
has awarded more than $19.8 million for 1,230 level 2 charging ports, 75
DCFC pedestals, and three hydrogen fuel filling nozzles.
ZEV Rebate
Program
The Municipal ZEV
Rebate program provides rebates to municipalities that purchase electric
vehicles for fleet use. A total of $585,000 is available this round on a
first-come, first-served basis and available to municipalities that
purchase – or lease for a minimum of 36 months – an eligible electric
vehicle placed into service between September 28, 2024, and February 27,
2026. All-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are
eligible for rebates.
Electric vehicle rebates are available on a tiered basis, ranging from
$2,500 to $7,500, depending on the electric range of the vehicle.
Medium-duty vehicles are eligible for a rebate of $7,500 regardless of
electric range.
DEC is accepting
applications on a rolling basis through 3 p.m. on February 27, 2026, or
until funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first. For more information,
see the RFA posted on DEC’s website. Applications are available through
the NYS Statewide Financial System Grants Management System.
Since the
inception of the Municipal ZEV Rebate program in 2016, DEC has awarded more
than $1.8 million for 231 electric vehicles and 115 plug-in
hybrids.
In Governor
Hochul’s 2025-26 Executive Budget, New York State included a
historic investment of $425 million in Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)
funding. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts,
improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture,
protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides
recreational opportunities for New Yorkers. In addition, the Governor has
committed $1 billion as part of the Sustainable Future Fund to advance clean energy,
cut emissions, and expand green infrastructure statewide.
New York State's
Climate Agenda
New York State's
climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean
energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic
growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of
the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of
efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the
energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
About the
Consolidated Funding
Application
The Consolidated
Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant
application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way
state resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater
efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as
the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring
applicants no longer have to slowly navigate
multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now,
economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access
multiple state funding sources through one application, making the process
quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA.
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