State guide
Colorado
CO8 / 10AdoptionColorado hit a national record 32.4% EV market share in Q3 2025 before sales fell sharply in Q1 2026 after the federal $7,500 credit ended and the state Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit dropped to $750. The Vehicle Exchange Colorado rebate and Xcel Energy's commercial rebates still combine to cover a meaningful share of vehicle and charger costs for buyers who qualify; the federal 30C residential charger credit ended June 30, 2026 and is no longer available.
Last updated July 2026
EV Charging Snapshot
Strong- EV Adoption Rate
- 27.3%
- Public Chargers
- 2,948
- Top Incentive
- VXC Trade-In Rebate, up to $9,000 for income-qualified buyers
What applies to your address?
Enter your ZIP code to see your electric utility, county, and the most relevant EV charging programs.
We don't store or log ZIP codes.
EV adoption snapshot
EV adoption by county: top 10
County-level light-duty plug-in EV registrations.
| County | Registered EVs | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Arapahoe County | 14,900 | 16.4% |
| Boulder County | 14,600 | 16.0% |
| Jefferson County | 13,100 | 14.4% |
| Denver County | 12,400 | 13.6% |
| Douglas County | 11,800 | 13.0% |
| El Paso County | 8,900 | 9.8% |
| Larimer County | 7,100 | 7.8% |
| Adams County | 6,300 | 6.9% |
| Broomfield County | 3,500 | 3.8% |
| Weld County | 3,100 | 3.4% |
Source: Colorado Energy Office · 2024 data
Incentives and rebates
Amounts shift as funding rounds open and close. Confirm the live program page before you apply.
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit | $750 base for new BEVs/PHEVs (MSRP ≤ $80,000); additional $2,500 for vehicles with MSRP ≤ $35,000 | Colorado residents purchasing or leasing a qualifying new light-duty EV titled and registered in Colorado; leases must run at least two years. Credit dropped from $3,500 in tax year 2025 to $750 in tax year 2026 under the scheduled phase-down. | Learn more ↗ |
| Vehicle Exchange Colorado (VXC) Program | Up to $9,000 for new BEV/PHEV (MSRP ≤ $80,000); up to $6,000 for used BEV/PHEV (MSRP ≤ $50,000) | Income-qualified Colorado residents trading in a vehicle 12 model years or older (model year 2014 or older for a 2026 application) or one that failed a Colorado emissions test. Applicants must be pre-approved before purchase or lease from one of 170+ participating dealers. Amounts increased to $9,000/$6,000 effective November 3, 2025. | Learn more ↗ |
| Federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (30C) | Ended June 30, 2026 (no longer available) | The federal 30C charger credit ended June 30, 2026. It previously covered residential charging equipment placed in service in an eligible census tract; property placed in service after that date cannot claim it. | Learn more ↗ |
| Xcel Energy EV Charger and Wiring Rebate | Up to $500; up to $1,300 for income-qualified customers | Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel) residential customers installing a 240-volt circuit and an eligible Level 2 charger; enrollment in Xcel's Optimize Your Charge managed-charging program is required. The $1,300 enhanced amount requires income verification through Xcel's partner. Xcel separately advertises up to $1,500 toward a required electrical panel upgrade; confirm current panel-upgrade terms on the program page before budgeting. | Learn more ↗ |
| Black Hills Energy Colorado EV Charger Rebate | Up to $500 standard; up to $1,300 for income-qualified customers | Black Hills Energy electric customers installing a Level 2 charger by a licensed electrician and enrolling in the Time-of-Day rate. Program runs through December 31, 2026 or until budget is exhausted. | Learn more ↗ |
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Commercial and Multifamily Level 2 Rebate | Up to $2,200 per Level 2 port for income-qualified or high-emissions-community projects and for Community Charging Hubs | Xcel Energy Colorado commercial and multifamily customers installing Level 2 EV chargers under the Commercial EV Infrastructure Rebate Program, covering make-ready infrastructure from the meter to the port. About $20 million is available in the 2026 round on a first-come basis; standard-track per-port amounts vary, so confirm current terms on Xcel's program page. | Learn more ↗ |
| Xcel Energy Commercial DC Fast Charger Rebate | Up to $45,000 per DCFC port for income-qualified or high-emissions communities; up to $31,200 per DCFC port for Community Charging Hubs | Xcel Energy Colorado commercial customers installing DC fast chargers under the Commercial EV Infrastructure Rebate Program. | Learn more ↗ |
| Federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (30C) | Ended June 30, 2026 (no longer available) | The federal 30C charger credit ended June 30, 2026. It previously covered commercial charging equipment placed in service in an eligible census tract; property placed in service after that date cannot claim it. | Learn more ↗ |
| NEVI Formula Program | Up to 80% of project costs | EV charging along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Colorado received the final $12 million tranche of its $56.5 million NEVI allocation in October 2025 after the federal pause was lifted, and has awarded $25.6 million toward 246 fast-charging ports to date. | Learn more ↗ |
| Colorado DCFC Plazas Grant Program | Competitive grants from a roughly $14 million 2026 round | Public, private, and non-profit applicants installing DC fast charging plazas at priority locations identified by the Colorado Energy Office. The 2026 application window runs May 18 through July 10, 2026. | Learn more ↗ |
Time-of-use rates
Peak windows and prices are set by each utility and change at rate cases.
- Availability
- statewide
- Summary
- Following a 2023 Colorado PUC order, Xcel Energy's residential TOU rate is the default (with opt-out) and Black Hills Energy offers an opt-in TOU schedule. Xcel's on-peak window runs 3pm to 7pm on weekdays with a 1pm to 3pm mid-peak block; all other hours, including weekends and holidays, are off-peak. Black Hills Energy runs its own opt-in Time-of-Day schedule. Municipal utilities such as Colorado Springs Utilities run separate schedules; Xcel's plan is the closest to a statewide reference.
- Source
- SourceVerified Jul 2026
Net metering and solar export
Matters if you pair rooftop solar with home charging.
- Status
- full retail
- Summary
- Colorado law requires Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy to credit residential net metering exports at the full retail rate. Systems can be sized up to 120 percent of the prior 12 months of consumption. Credits roll forward monthly and can be cashed out annually at avoided cost. Coverage extends to investor-owned utilities; municipal utilities and cooperatives run their own programs.
- Source
- SourceVerified Jun 2026
Right to charge
Whether an HOA or landlord can block a home charger install.
- Statute
- Colo. Rev. Stat. § 38-33.3-106.8
- Applies to
- single family hoa, condo, rental
- What it does
- Colorado prohibits common interest community associations from unreasonably restricting installation or use of an EV charging system. HB23-1233 (2023) expanded the original 2013 statute to cover assigned, deeded, and shared parking spaces plus commercial rental property, and bars landlords or associations from prohibiting an EV from parking on the premises. Owners pay installation, comply with reasonable architectural standards, and register the system with the association within 30 days.
- Source
- SourceVerified Jun 2026
Registration and EV fees
The annual surcharge that replaces gas-tax revenue.
| Vehicle type | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Battery electric (EV) | $51/year |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | $51/year |
Utilities serving Colorado
Your EV rate, rebates, and make-ready programs depend on who serves your address.
Utility coverage for Colorado is being expanded. Major utility pages will appear here as they ship.
Public charging network
Tesla Supercharger, ChargePoint, Electrify America, and EVgo are all active in Colorado. The I-25, I-70, and US-36 corridors are well-served. Denver and Boulder have high charger density. Mountain resort corridors (Vail, Aspen, Summit County) have strong coverage due to early adoption in those markets.
Station-network counts for Colorado will appear here once the next AFDC ingest runs.
Regulatory environment
Colorado adopted Advanced Clean Cars II, requiring an escalating percentage of ZEV sales toward 100% by 2035. The Colorado Energy Office and CDOT are co-administering NEVI funding, with the final $12 million tranche approved in October 2025. HB 1161 (2023) requires EV charging readiness in new construction, and HB24-1173 (2024) standardized EV charger permitting in larger counties and municipalities, with a December 31, 2025 compliance deadline and ENERGY STAR certification required for chargers sold in the state starting July 1, 2026. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy's multiyear EV charging program, which is the source of the commercial rebates above.
Sources
- EIA Form 861Retrieved May 2026
- NREL Alternative Fuels Data CenterRetrieved May 2026
Free guide
The Home EV Charging Guide
Everything a homeowner needs to go from curious to charging. Chargers, installation, costs, and the credits that pay for it. No sales pitch.
- Do you actually need Level 2?
- What installation really involves
- Costs, credits, and incentives
- Your install-day checklist
Free, just your email address.
Free guide
The Commercial Charging Playbook
A property owner's guide to deploying EV charging that pays for itself. Planning, utility coordination, funding, and the real business case. No vendor spin.
- Should your property offer charging?
- Planning and the deployment process
- Funding: NEVI, CFI, and state and utility programs
- ROI and the business case
Free, just your email address.
The Weekly EV Charging Briefing
One email a week. Just EV news that matters.
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe any time.