EV incentives

The state of Vermont has launched an incentive program that will help residents scrap and replace old gas cars with new or used eligible electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Vermont is launching new electric bike and car incentive programs and is also continuing an existing EV incentive program for state residents. The transportation sector currently causes about 40% of the state’s carbon emissions. 

New York State governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced this week that more than $12 million will be added to the state’s Drive Clean Rebate program, which helps consumers save up to $2,000 on the purchase of an electric vehicle.

The US Senate is reportedly considering changes to the extra $4,500 incentive for electric vehicles built at union factories in the US that is part of the Build Back Better act.

It comes as several countries are pushing to stop the proposal.

After an entire day (and indeed months) of deliberation and negotiations, Congress approved a long-debated infrastructure bill totaling $1.2 trillion. The 228-206 vote held by the US House of Representatives early Saturday morning will put a core piece of President Biden’s domestic legislature into action. While six Democrats didn’t vote for the bill, 12 Republicans joined

While this is a huge win for the Biden administration, the President and House Speaker Pelosi were unable to land a vote of passage for the “Build Back Better Act,” which includes a restructured federal tax credit for EVs to up to $12,500.

In today’s Electrek Green Energy Brief (EGEB):

• The US government has awarded grants for electric and hydrogen buses to 49 projects in 46 states.
• Connecticut boosts its electric vehicle rebates.
• UnderstandSolar is a free service that links you to top-rated solar installers in your region for personalized solar estimates. Tesla now offers price matching, so it’s important to shop for the best quotes. Click here to learn more and get your quotes. — *ad.

President Joe Biden has unveiled an outline of his infrastructure plan, and it includes a proposed $174 billion investment in electric vehicles.

California has refreshed its “Clean Fuel Rewards” program, increasing the amount to $1,500 upfront (no application required) and simplifying availability to customers statewide. The new incentive is available for any eligible electric vehicle (including motorcycles!) purchased from a participating retailer starting today, November 17.

As this is a refresh of California’s previous Clean Fuel program, which was a collaboration between the California Air Resources Board and electric utility providers, those previous utility programs will disappear at the end of this year. But other incentives still exist, and until the end of the year, the utility incentives are still active — which means customers who buy before December 31 may be able to double-up and save an extra grand or so.

Update: SCE has reached out to clarify that their $1k rebate does not stack with the new $1,500 incentive, and other utility incentives likely don’t either. While CARB said that both incentives can be used on the same car, SCE itself doesn’t allow customers to take both incentives. So check with your individual utility to see if their programs stack.

The British government is considering offering drivers up to £6,000 to swap their ICE cars for electric vehicles ahead of a plan to relaunch the economy, according to the Telegraph.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Tim Echols wants his fellow Republicans to wake up to the benefits of electric vehicles. Echols, a member of Georgia’s Public Service Commission, is not happy that his state quashed state-based EV tax credits in 2015. That led to a nearly 90% drop in the state’s electric-car registrations. And Echols tried unsuccessfully get Washington to extend federal EV tax credits. But he’s not giving up the battle.

Expand
Expanding
Close

The Ontario Government announced this week an update to its incentive program to promote electric vehicles. Premier Kathleen Wynne made the announcement yesterday at WaterPark Place in Toronto.

The initiative builds on the province’s program first launched in 2010 and increases the range of incentives from $5,000 – $8,500 to $6,000 – $10,000 per vehicle, but not without a few exceptions.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Germany joined the International Zero-Emission Vehicle Alliance (ZEV Alliance) last month and committed to make all passenger vehicles emission-free by 2050. Today, Reuters reports what seems to be the government’s intention to make the first actionable move toward the ZEV Alliance’s goal.
Expand
Expanding
Close