Commercial EV Charging — Tax Credits & Incentives
Sticker price is not the number that matters. Between the federal 30C credit, NEVI formula dollars, and Midwest utility make-ready programs, a well-scoped commercial charging project usually nets out at 30–70% of gross cost. Here's how each piece works.
30C — Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
The 30C credit — extended and expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act — covers up to 30% of the cost of qualified EV charging equipment and its installation for businesses, capped at $100,000 per single item of property (each charger port typically counts separately).
- Site must be in an eligible census tract (low-income or non-urban).
- Prevailing wage and apprenticeship rules apply to hit the full 30%.
- Both Level 2 and DC Fast equipment qualify, plus associated make-ready costs.
NEVI — National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program
NEVI directs $5B in federal funds through state DOTs to build DC fast charging along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors — including I-70, I-71, I-75, and I-74 across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
- Typically funds up to 80% of eligible project cost.
- Requires 4× 150 kW+ ports per site, within 1 mile of the corridor exit.
- 5-year operations & maintenance commitment (which we handle).
Midwest utility make-ready and rebate programs
Most of the "invisible" cost of a charging project is on the utility side — the transformer, the service upgrade, the trench from the pole to the pad. Midwest utilities offer make-ready programs that cover a large share of that infrastructure so you can spend your capital on the chargers themselves.
- Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky — Charging Infrastructure programs for commercial and fleet sites.
- AEP Ohio — PowerForward EV rebates for Level 2 and DC Fast at commercial properties.
- DTE & Consumers Energy (MI) — Charging Forward rebates covering make-ready and equipment.
- Ameren (IL/MO) — Charge Ahead / Charge Smart commercial rebates.
Stacking the incentives
These programs stack — but the order matters. NEVI or utility make-ready dollars reduce your eligible cost basis for the 30C credit, so we model the sequence up front to maximize the net-of-incentive number instead of any single line item.
Example — 4-port DC Fast site on I-75
Illustrative. Actual awards depend on census tract, corridor status, and utility territory.
We run the incentive stack for you.
Cynergize handles the 30C paperwork, the NEVI application through your state DOT, and the utility make-ready enrollment as part of every install. You see one net number.