If you are taking advantage of the long Labor Day weekend to do some car shopping, be sure to check out electric vehicles because there are significant state and federal incentives available to offset your lease or purchase cost.
State and federal incentives for buying EVs
At the federal level, a tax credit of up to $7,500 is available for those who buy an EV. The amount of the credit varies based on the battery capacity and personal tax situations.
At the state level, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) provides rebates ranging from $1,500 to $4,500 for fully electric and plug-in hybrid passenger cars. The amount of the rebate varies depending on the vehicle make and model and the applicant’s household income. The standard rebates are $1,500 for a plug-in hybrid and $2,500 for an all-electric car. Those who meet certain income criteria are eligible for enhanced EV rebates of up to $4,500.
Pending an infusion of state funding, the CVRP is currently only processing rebate applications for qualified lower-income applicants. In June, the Legislature approved $238 million in cap-and-trade auction proceeds to fund rebates. However, it could take several months for the funding to be available. Qualified applicants on the rebate waitlist will receive payment when the project receives more funding. Additional updates will be provided here as they become known
Champions for Clean Air offers $1,000 rebates
Through SDG&E’s Champions for Clean Air program partnership with Plug in America, school district employees and first responders, including firefighters, police officers, Sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical technicians, are eligible to receive a $1,000 point-of-sale rebate toward the purchase or lease of an all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Learn more about the application process here.
Electric rates help EV drivers save
SDG&E customers who drive EVs can save money by signing up for an electric vehicle time-of-use rate and program their car to charge during the cheapest hours of the day. Under our EV-TOU 5 pricing plan, electricity prices are as low as 9 cents per kWh when you charge your car overnight. That price translates into the equivalent of paying 75 cents per gallon of gasoline for many drivers.
EV shopping assistant
Want to do some browsing and price comparison online before you can into dealership so you are armed with information? We have what you just need.
We partnered with nonprofit Plug In America to create a customized web portal, sdge.plugstar.com,
to assist EV shoppers in the San Diego region. In addition to vehicle specs and photos, the portal provides information about local, state, and federal incentives for purchasing a new electric vehicle, EV charging pricing plans, fuel savings comparison between driving gas and electric, popularity ratings and reviews, and more.
The robust web portal also links customers to local dealerships whose staff have undergone specialized training so they can answer EV-specific questions, such as the amount of a standard California Clean Air Vehicle Rebate, the application process for obtaining a carpool sticker or the basics about different levels of EV charging.