ev.energy wins $11M CEC grant to expand California EV charging program

ev.energy secured $11 million from the California Energy Commission to expand its ChargeWise California virtual power plant program to 79,000 drivers by the end of 2028. The $22 million total budget is designed to cut charging costs, shift demand to midday solar, and broaden access in disadvantaged communities.

Why it matters: - California’s EV growth is adding pressure to the grid during the most expensive hours of the day. - ChargeWise is designed to move charging into midday hours, when solar is plentiful and power is cheaper. - The program could lower wholesale procurement costs for community choice aggregators and help limit solar curtailment. - The scale-up also aims to expand equitable access to EV charging savings in disadvantaged communities.

What happened: - ev.energy announced it secured $11 million from the California Energy Commission for Phase 2 of ChargeWise California. - With partner funds matched by the CEC, the total program budget reaches $22 million. - The expansion will grow the program from a current pilot of 9,000 EV drivers to a target of 79,000 total customers by the end of 2028. - ChargeWise is part of the CEC’s Responsive, Easy Charging Products with Dynamic Signals initiative, awarded in 2023. - ev.energy is one of two Phase 1 recipients selected to advance to Phase 2. - Phase 1 ran with MCE and Silicon Valley Clean Energy and won the 2026 AESP Energy Award for Innovations in Technology. - In Phase 2, ChargeWise will also support incentives through Clean Power Alliance’s EV SmartCharge program.

The details: - The majority of the award is available as match funding for utilities, California Community Choice Aggregators and other partners. - The match funding covers 50% of user acquisition, incentive and onboarding costs. - $1 million is reserved for product development, including work on vehicle-to-everything charging. - Savings from that development work will be passed through to program partners. - ChargeWise uses day-ahead CAISO signals on supply, demand and price to optimize charging schedules. - Eve aligns charging with the least expensive time of day without requiring customers to intervene or change their electric rate. - The platform uses dynamic market pricing signals to build daily charging schedules and incentives under existing rate structures. - The program does not require a specific hardware brand and can connect to approximately 95% of U.S. EV-owning households through vehicle or charger integrations combined. - California EV drivers can now register interest in ChargeWise.

Between the lines: - The program is built around managed charging, not dynamic household electricity rates. - That matters because dynamic whole-home rates can be difficult for customers who cannot shift basic household usage. - Phase 1 results suggest the model can deliver meaningful savings and high participation without requiring customers to change routines. - The grant structure is also aimed at making it easier for utilities and CCAs to reach underserved communities. - At scale, the program functions as a virtual power plant, turning EV charging into a grid resource instead of just a load.

What's next: - ev.energy will use Phase 2 funding to expand enrollment and extend ChargeWise across California through the end of 2028. - The company plans to work with investor-owned utilities, CCAs, other energy providers, driver associations and EV supply chain businesses. - CAISO and the California Public Utilities Commission will also be engaged to maximize system value and ratepayer benefit. - California energy providers and businesses interested in collaboration can book a call with Stephanie Leach, Senior Business Development Manager, for program design and match funding.

The bottom line: - ev.energy is using state support to turn EV charging into a scalable affordability and grid-management tool in California.