Clean Transportation Funding Exists. Here’s How to Find It.

By Connor Urbany

Making the decision to adopt cleaner transportation technologies is one thing; knowing where to find the funding is another piece of the puzzle entirely. For those navigating the landscape of resources — grants, rebates, tax incentives, and everything in between — the process can be overwhelming. Funding opportunities exist at all levels from federal to local, but finding the right program and determining whether it applies to your specific project can require hours of research across dozens of websites.

That’s exactly why the Funding Finder was created.

Designed to help stakeholders quickly identify and access funding opportunities, the tool serves as a centralized resource for clean transportation funding—eliminating the guesswork and connecting users with resources they might not otherwise have discovered. Whether you’re looking to purchase zero-emission trucks, electrify a bus fleet, install charging infrastructure, or adopt hydrogen fueling solutions, the Funding Finder helps you find the support that fits your project.

Today, the tool includes 465 funding programs across all 50 states, including federal and tribal opportunities. California alone accounts for 98 incentive programs, reflecting the state’s leadership in accelerating clean transportation adoption through strategic investment and policy support.

A Resource Built for the Entire Clean Transportation Ecosystem

As the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) continues to grow nationwide, access to accurate and timely funding information has become increasingly important.

The Funding Finder was built for anyone moving toward cleaner transportation – whether you’re a fleet operator, an infrastructure developer, a transit agency, a municipality, or a business exploring your first zero-emission vehicle purchase. “We built this tool because there was no single place where a fleet manager or business owner could go to understand what funding was available to them,” said Connor Urbany, Project Manager at CALSTART. “The Funding Finder changes that. Now, it’s easier for organizations of all sizes to find available funding opportunities and take the next step toward cleaner, healthier transportation.”

Rather than requiring users to search individual agency websites or track multiple funding announcements, the tool consolidates opportunities into one searchable database. Users can filter opportunities by vehicle type, technology, vehicle class, funding category, and geography to find programs that align with their specific needs.

For example, a fleet operator exploring battery-electric trucks can narrow results to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, while an installer seeking funding for charging infrastructure can focus specifically on infrastructure-related incentives.

Staying Current in a Rapidly Changing Funding Landscape

One of the greatest challenges in pursuing clean transportation funding is keeping up with changes. Programs frequently open, close, expand, or run out of funds. Deadlines shift, eligibility requirements evolve, and new opportunities emerge throughout the year. For example, Colorado’s Fleet Zero-Emission Resource Opportunity (Fleet-ZERO) grant program just opened on June 1. Even if you live in Colorado, this may be your first time hearing of it!

To help users stay informed, CALSTART regularly updates the Funding Finder database. The status and availability of every listed program are reviewed every two months, ensuring users have access to current information when evaluating funding opportunities. In addition to scheduled updates, newly identified opportunities can be incorporated as they become available, helping stakeholders stay ahead of emerging funding sources.

The result is a tool that not only helps users discover available funds but also provides greater confidence that the information they’re relying on is current and actionable.

More Than a Database

While the Funding Finder serves as a practical funding resource, its impact extends beyond helping individual organizations secure grants or incentives. The broader purpose of the tool is to accelerate the overall adoption of clean transportation, reduce emissions, and improve the health of communities across the country.

When fleets can more easily identify funding opportunities, they can move projects forward faster. When infrastructure developers have better visibility into available incentives, charging and fueling networks can expand more quickly. And when communities gain access to cleaner vehicles and infrastructure, everyone wins. In many ways, the Funding Finder serves as a bridge between ambitious clean transportation goals and the financial resources needed to achieve them.

It also offers valuable insights for policymakers, economic development organizations, and state agencies looking to strengthen their own clean transportation programs. By examining funding opportunities across the country, stakeholders can identify successful approaches, understand investment trends, and explore how similar programs could be adapted to meet local needs. A fleet operator in New York, for example, might find inspiration in programs already proving successful in Minnesota.

Turning Momentum into Action

The clean transportation revolution is no longer a future goal — it’s happening now.

Across the country, fleets are evaluating zero-emission vehicles, businesses are planning infrastructure investments, and communities are seeking solutions that improve public health while reducing emissions. Yet funding uncertainty remains one of the most common barriers to action. The Funding Finder helps remove that barrier.

Instead of spending valuable time searching for opportunities, users can focus on planning projects, evaluating technologies, and preparing competitive applications. By bringing together federal, state, tribal, and local funding opportunities in one place, the tool makes it easier for organizations of all sizes to take the next step toward cleaner transportation.

As new programs continue to emerge and states expand their clean transportation investments, the Funding Finder will remain a critical resource for helping stakeholders identify opportunities and bring projects to life. To arrive at a future where clean transportation is the norm, we need more than just innovative technology — we need access and awareness, too. The money is out there. The Funding Finder helps you find it.

Ready to explore what’s available? Start by discovering the funds available right now in your state.

About the Author

Connor Urbany joined CALSTART in 2023 as a Project Manager for the Clean Fuels and Infrastructure team. His work focuses on the continued development, improvement, implementation, and maintenance of CALSTART’s online tools. Before joining CALSTART, Connor worked as a Public Relations Specialist seamlessly executing launches, events and major activations for clients including GoPro, Fujitsu, TCL and more. He also played a key role in launching UK-based e-scooter brand D-Fly in North America.