ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING Assistance Program (EVCAP)
The Virginia Department of Energy is offering the EVCAP subaward program to work at the community level to understand and address issues surrounding the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The focus is on specific underserved communities, and the results will inform current and future EV charging deployment.
The grants are open to EV charging vendors or for collaborations between governments and technology providers.
The second round of EVCAP focuses on community-level solutions that expand charging access in historically underserved areas, including historically economically disadvantaged communities, environmental justice communities, and brownfield sites, including previously mined lands. Virginia Energy is seeking projects that not only install charging equipment, but also demonstrate project readiness, improve accessibility, report on charger usage and community impact, and help overcome barriers to electric vehicle supply equipment deployment in Virginia.
Total Funding Available: Up to $510,000
Proposal Amount: Subawards up to a maximum of $510,000. *The Virginia Department of Energy may elect to partially award proposals at its discretion.
Proposals for this round of funding will be accepting until June 30, 2026.
General reporting requirements
Projects selected for funding will be expected to provide data on charging usage, operational performance, user accessibility, and economic and community impacts. Awardees also will be required to comply with applicable federal requirements.
Each project proposal should include plans for documentation of invoiced work as well as quarterly progress reports summarizing work completed
Additional requirements:
- An analysis of grid capacity is required for each installation. This analysis must be provided to Virginia Energy prior to initiation of on-site work.
- Each install will be a reportable case study and metric detailed in internal reports, an annual report and onto federal websites. Public charging will be detailed on the app "Plugshare," which will include site photos.
- Installation reports shall include budget details, information on additional leveraged funding and a summary of potential economic benefits.
- Details on long-term maintenance and operation plans must be included.
Historically Underserved Community evaluation and Analysis tools:
Disadvantaged Community Designations Tool
Build America Buy American Act, Davis Bacon Prevailing Wage, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Historic Preservation considerations:
- The funding is subject to BABA rules and this program will consider only BABA-compliant Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) as outlined by Executive Order 14005 or seek allowable exclusions as appropriate.
- Davis Bacon prevailing wage rules apply to this federal funding subgrant opportunity.
- NEPA is primarily a geolocation requirement associated with community benefits applicable due to EVSE at previously disturbed areas such as parking lots are categorically excluded according to current guidance.
- The Advisory Council on History Preservation (ACHP) published Exemptions from Historic Preservation Review for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment on November 2, 2022, that apply to this opportunity
budget:
This program includes a total investment of up to $510,000 over a two-year performance period. This project allows the purchase and reimbursement for chargers, at competitive and lean rates, based on peer review of other programs. The program would only partially fund these installations and would report cost share details and full installation and operation details.
applications:
Award proposals and all required information must be submitted through the Virginia Energy Grant Portal.
Eligible applicants and activities:
Eligible applicants for charger installation work can include private businesses or government-industry partnerships. Activities include the purchase and installation of electric vehicle chargers.
Frequently Asked Questions
This list of questions has been updated as of 5/20/2026. This list will be updated as more requests are received.
1. What is the funding source for EVCAP Round 2?
EVCAP Round 2 is funded through the federal U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program (SEP) Formula Grant authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Virginia Energy is administering these funds as a competitive subaward program.
2. Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes, nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding under EVCAP Round 2. The program is open to a wide range of applicants, including private businesses and government-industry partnerships, as long as the proposed projects align with the goals of expanding EV charging access in historically underserved areas.
3. Is there a cost share requirement?
No. EVCAP Round 2 does not require a minimum cost share. While previous rounds included a 20% cost share requirement, that requirement was not carried forward into this funding round.
4. Do chargers funded through EVCAP need to be publicly accessible?
Because EVCAP uses public funding, Virginia Energy is prioritizing projects that expand publicly accessible charging infrastructure. Multifamily residential charging projects are encouraged to apply; however, applicants should include a plan describing how charging access will benefit the broader community or residents served by the site.
5. How should government and private-sector partnerships be demonstrated?
For government-industry partnerships, the government entity would typically serve as the subrecipient and contract with a private-sector installer or technology provider to complete the work. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate that a competitive procurement or pricing review process occurred to ensure costs are reasonable and cost-effective. Supporting documentation may include:
- • Competitive bids or quotes
- • Procurement records
- • Contractor proposals
- • Email correspondence or other documentation demonstrating pricing review
6. Is there a preference for DC Fast Charging (DCFC) or Level 2 charging?
No. EVCAP Round 2 does not establish a preference for a specific charger type or power level. EV charging equipment must be compliant with Build America Buy America standards. Applications will be evaluated based on community impact, project readiness, and effective use of funding. For example, a single DCFC installation in a charging desert may score more favorably than multiple Level 2 chargers proposed in an area that already has significant charging availability. Inversely, a project with multiple Level 2 chargers deployed in charging deserts may score more favorably than a DCFC in an area with high EV charging saturation.
7. Is there a preferred ownership model for the awarded charging equipment?
No. Virginia Energy does not require a specific ownership model for EV charging equipment or project sites. Successful applicants must clearly document:
- • Site ownership
- • Equipment ownership
- • Site host agreements (if applicable)
- • Long-term operation and maintenance responsibilities
For privately owned sites, applicants should provide documentation demonstrating coordination with the site host and authorization for the proposed installation.
8. Can project sites change after an award is made?
Potentially. Changes to project sites, scope of work, or budget after award execution require review and approval through a formal contract amendment process with Virginia Energy. Any proposed replacement site must continue to meet the objectives and requirements of the program, including EV charging access and community impact goals. Virginia Energy reserves the right to deny proposed changes or reduce project scope if replacement sites do not align with program priorities.
If you have additional questions about EVCAP Round 2, please submit them through Virginia Energy's Grant Portal under the Help and Questions Tab.
Or email: edward.cronin@energy.virginia.gov and emma.lundeen@energy.virginia.gov
