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California Electric Vehicle Rebates, Tax Credits and Incentives
The state of California’s rebates, tax credits, and incentives for purchasing electric cars have played a crucial role in supporting high EV adoption rates in the Golden State.
For example, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) promoted clean vehicle adoption in California by offering rebates from $1,000 to $7,500 for the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero-emission vehicles, including electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. Unfortunately CVRP funds are no longer available, but that program has been replaced by Clean Cars 4 All.
Clean Cars 4 All – California Electric Vehicle Rebate Program
Clean Cars 4 All provides incentives up to $12,000 to help lower-income consumers living in priority populations to replace their old higher-polluting vehicles with newer and cleaner transportation. California residents who meet income requirements can collect up to $12,000 to retire and replace their older gas-powered cars with cleaner alternatives like hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and zero-emission vehicles. Those not getting rid of an older car can qualify for up to $7,500 in purchase grants.
Consumer Assistance Program Vehicle Retirement
The Consumer Assistance Program’s (CAP) vehicle retirement option offers eligible consumers an incentive to retire their operational vehicle. Consumers meeting the income eligibility requirement may receive $1,500 for each vehicle retired. All other vehicle owners may receive $1,000 to retire their vehicle at a BAR-contracted dismantler.
Federal Tax Credits For Electric Vehicles
It’s important to note that car buyers also may qualify for federal tax credits like the clean vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500 for new vehicles, or the used clean vehicle tax credit for up to $4,000. Income restrictions as well as battery component and critical mineral restrictions may apply. Be sure to speak to a qualified CPA or tax professional to check your eligibility.
California Utility Rebates For Electric Cars
Utilities in California have their own electrification programs for energy transition technologies like electric cars. Be sure to check with your local utility to see what programs or offerings are available in your area.
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) provides rebates of up to $4,000 for the purchase of a pre-owned EV with a purchase price below $40,000. Income-qualifying customers may receive an additional $2,000 rebate. For more information see the AMP EV website.
Burbank Water and Power (BWP) offers residential customers a rebate of up to $1,000 for the purchase of a pre-owned EV. For more information see the BWP Used EV Rebate website.
Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) offers rebates of up to $4,000 to residential, commercial, and public agency customers for the purchase of new or pre-owned EVs or electric motorcycles. CCCE also offers a rebate of up to $10,000 for Level 2 EV charging stations installed at homes or workplaces. For more information see the CCCE Electrify Your Ride website.
MCE offers a $3,500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new EV or PHEV and a $2,000 rebate for the purchase or lease of a pre-owned EV or PHEV for residential customers. To be eligible for the rebate, applicants must live in MCE’s service area, be an MCE customer, and meet at least one of the qualifying income requirements. For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the MCE EV Rebates website.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) offers residential customers a rebate of $1,000 for the purchase of a pre-owned EV. Low-income residents are eligible for a rebate of up to $4,000. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information visit our PG&E EV Incentives blog.
Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) provides rebates of $250 to residential customers who purchase or lease an eligible new or pre-owned EV. An additional $250 is available for eligible EVs purchased or leased from a Pasadena dealership. Customers participating in PWP’s income-qualifying programs may also qualify for an additional $1,000 rebate, for a total of $1,500. Customers may receive rebates for up to 2 EVs per address every 3 years. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information see the PWP Residential EV and Charger Incentive Program website.
With SCE’s Pre-Owned EV Rebate, you could receive a $1,000 or $4,000 rebate based on household income. Apply within 180 days from the purchase or lease of a pre-owned EV to determine your eligibility. For more information visit our SCE EV Incentives blog.
California EV Charger Rebates
In addition to the above incentives that are offered for purchasing an electric car, California residents can also claim rebates for purchasing and installing Level 2 EV chargers, ranging from as little to $150 to up to $15,000. Scroll down to view more details for specific utility providers in CA.
California Utility Rebates for Level 2 EV Chargers & Installation
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) provides rebates to residential, commercial, and multifamily customers for the purchase of Level 2 EV charging stations. $500 for residential, $6,000 for commercial and $8,000 for multifamily. See the AMP EV program page for details.
Anaheim Public Utilities (APU) provides rebates for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers for the purchase and installation of Level 2 or direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations. A $1,500 rebate is available for residential Level 2 charging stations. The program has limited funding and is scheduled to reopen July 1, 2024. See the APU EV Rebate Program website for details and limitations.
Azusa Light & Water offers a $150 rebate to customers for the purchase of an ENERGY STAR certified Level 2 EV charging station. For more information see Azusa’s EVs website.
Burbank Water and Power (BWP) provides rebates to commercial and residential customers toward the purchase of Level 2 EV charging stations. Residential customers may receive a rebate of up to $500 to purchase and install a Level 2 charging station. Commercial or multi-unit dwelling customers may receive up to $15,000 for the purchase and installation of Level 2 or direct current fast charging stations. Learn more on the BWP Rebates and Incentives page.
Glendale Water and Power (GWP) provides rebates to commercial and residential customers toward the purchase of Level 2 EV charging stations. Commercial or multi-unit dwelling customers who purchase and install EV charging stations can receive up to $6,000 for each charger and up to four rebates. Residential customers who install a charger can receive up to $599. Applications must be submitted no later than four months from the date of purchase. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. For program guidelines and application materials see the GWP Electric Vehicles website.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers a rebate of up to $1,000 for the purchase and installation of qualified Level 2 EV charging stations, and a $250 rebate for the installation of a dedicated EV charging station meter. Customers participating in LADWP Lifeline or EZ-SAVE Low-Income Customer Assistance programs are eligible for an additional $500 rebate. For more information, including program guidelines and application materials see the LADWP Charge Up L.A.! website.
Under the Liberty EV Charger Rebate Program, customers receive rebates to offset the cost of installing smart EV chargers. Rebates are available to residential and small business customers. Liberty’s home charging rebate helps EV owners to install powerful, smart home chargers with a rebate of up to $1,500. Small businesses can attract new business and show their commitment to clean transportation and receive an incentive of up to $2,500.
MCE provides rebates of up to $3,000 for the purchase and installation of qualifying Level 2 EV charging stations at MUDs and workplaces in MCE territory, up to $60,000 per site. Customers that are enrolled in the MCE Deep Green program may be eligible for an additional $500 rebate per port, up to $10,000 per site. For more information, including how to apply and eligible EV charging stations see the MCE EV Rebates website.
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) provides rebates of $600 for residential customers toward the installation of a WiFi enabled EV charging station, or $200 toward the installation of a non-WiFi enabled EV charging stations. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, including how to apply, see the PWP Residential EV and Charger Incentive Program website.
With PG&E’s Residential Charging Solutions Rebate for income-eligible households, qualifying households may receive a $700 rebate on PG&E-approved EV charging equipment. Equipment must be from PG&E’s pre-approved equipment list and purchased on or after November 17, 2023. Only the products listed under “Eligible equipment” are currently eligible for the rebate. Each customer household, represented by an individual residential PG&E Electric Service Agreement ID, is only eligible to receive one rebate. For more information visit our PG&E EV Incentives blog.
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has partnered with Qmerit and Uplight to offer bundled EV charger installations and help you maximize rebates and savings. You could save up to $1,000 on your Level 2 at-home EV charger installation by taking advantage of the SMUD Charge@Home program while benefiting from expert installation from a Qmerit contractor. For more information, visit SMUD’s EV charger store and our SMUD EV Rebate blog.
Qualified Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) customers are eligible to receive a free Level 2 EV charging station with Wi-Fi capabilities. Customers are responsible for shipping and installation costs. Customers may also receive $5 per month for connecting the EV charging station to the GridSavvy Rewards program. Other terms and conditions may apply. For more information see the SCP GridSavvy website.
Southern California Edison (SCE) customers can upgrade EV charging capacity at home, so your EV is ready to go when you are. With SCE’s Charge Ready Home Rebate Program, you can qualify for up to $4,200 in rebates if you install a Level 2 EV charger within 120 days of getting your EV. For more information visit our SCE EV Incentives blog.
On a non-residential level, SCE’s Charge Ready Program offers customer rebates for businesses, government organizations, and multifamily properties to install EV charging stations at business, public sector, or multifamily dwelling locations. Rebate amounts vary, and sites located in disadvantaged communities are eligible for additional rebates. For more information, including eligibility requirements and funding availability, see the SCE Charge Ready Program website.
Turlock Irrigation District (TID) offers residential customers a $500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a qualifying new or pre-owned EV. TID also offers residential customers a rebate of $300 for the purchase and installation of a qualifying Level 2 EV charging station.
Low-income customers enrolled in the TID CARES Program are eligible for an additional rebate of $700 per EV and $100 per EV charging station. Up to two rebates may be claimed for EVs and EV charging stations per residential account. For more information, including eligibility requirements, see the TID Residential EV Rebates and CARES Program pages.
California EV Law, Policies and Regulations
In August 2022, California made history by adopting a bold plan to completely phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales by 2035. Since then, the Golden State has been developing a strong legal framework to support this groundbreaking measure.
California’s 2035 EV Mandate
Starting with the 2026 model year, the regulations will require 35% of passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks to be zero-emission versions. That will increase to about 51% in 2028, growing in stringency each year until it reaches 100% in 2035. For more information about Resolution 22-12 see the Advanced Clean Cars II Regulation.
A full and comprehensive list of California EV laws and regulations is available on the Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electricity Laws and Incentives in California.
EV Charging Rates in California
Time-of-use (TOU) rate plans offer lower electricity costs during off-peak hours like overnight. Below is a list of TOU rate plans available from California’s leading utilities.
Special EV Charging Rates from California Utilities
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) offers a TOU rate to customers that own or lease an EV. For more information see the AMP Electric Vehicles website.
Azusa Light & Water offers a $0.05 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) discount for electricity used to charge EVs during off peak times. Customers must use a minimum of 50 kWh to receive the discount. For more information see the Azusa Light & Water Schedule EV website.
Burbank Water and Power (BWP) offers a TOU rate to residential or multi-family customers for electricity used to charge EVs. Customers must remain on the EV TOU rate for a minimum of one year. For more information see the BWP EVs website.
Liberty Utilities offers residential and commercial customers TOU rates for charging EVs. For more information, see the Liberty Utilities EV Program website. Liberty’s TOU-EV rate lowers the cost of energy during off peak hours, so customers who can leave their cars plugged in overnight can benefit most. See the full details on the TOU-EV rate page.
MCE offers residential customers an incentive of $50 for enrolling in MCE’s managed charging program. Participants in this program may receive a monthly rebate of up to $10. MCE Sync automatically charges your EV during the cheapest off-peak hours, based on your electricity rate, and passes the savings back to you. For more information, including participation and eligibility requirements, see the MCE EV Smart Charging App website.
Additionally, MCE offers multi-unit dwelling, and workplace customers TOU rates for charging EVs. EV drivers can save significantly on charging costs by charging outside peak hours (4 PM to 9 PM). For even more savings, consider choosing MCE’s residential EV rate (EV2). Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information see the MCE EV Rate Plans website.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has special electricity rates designed to encourage customers to avoid using electricity during the early evening when the cost of electricity is highest. Learn more on the PG&E EV Rate Plans page.
Register your EV on your Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) account to receive a 1.5¢ discount on all electric usage between midnight and 6 AM. For a SMUD account to receive the EV rate credit, a plug-in electric vehicle must be registered with the DMV using the same service address as the SMUD account. Learn more on the SMUD Residential Electric Vehicles page.
SMUD is also rewarding drivers for charging EVs when it’s best for the electricity grid and when it allows us to use more renewable energy, working with automakers to test how it can help Sacramento-area customers charge their electric vehicles at times of day when energy demand is low. Current participating automakers include: BMW, Ford, General Motors and Tesla (via Optiwatt).
Once your vehicle has been connected to the communication platform and SMUD has verified eligibility, you’ll be eligible to receive participation rewards. Participants will receive a one-time, initial incentive and also a quarterly reward payment. Learn more on the Managed EV Charging page.
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) offers the EV-TOU-5 plan for customers to charge electric vehicles at home during off-peak times. Pricing is based on how much electricity you use and when, with three pricing periods. This plan could be a good fit if you can shift some of your electricity use away from the on-peak hours of 4-9 PM and you can regularly charge an electric vehicle during the super off-peak period late at night. Learn more on the SDG&E Rate Advisor page.
Public EV Charging Stations in California
California is already the most EV-friendly state, with more than 105,000 public and privately shared EV chargers available. However, with the fastest growing rate of adoption for electric vehicles, it also means that competition for public charging can be fierce and waiting lines can be long, with a ratio of one charger per 75 electric vehicles.
How Many Public EV Charging Stations Are in California?
As of March 2024, the CA Energy Commission reports there are 43,344 public EV charging stations, plus another 61,668 shared private EV chargers in the state. This includes over 10,000 public DC Fast/Level 3 charging stations.
There are 448 Tesla Supercharger stations and 6,913 Tesla Supercharger ports in California.
As mentioned above, the state also has robust at-home EV charger installation and charging incentives that can help reduce the reliance of EV drivers on public charging, provide the convenience of at-home charging, and offer greater cost savings than utilizing public EV charging stations.
How Much Do Public EV Charging Stations Cost in California?
Public EV charging facilities use different billing models, usually incorporating the cost of the energy used as well as various operating costs.
Drive Clean California statistics reveal that operators charge an average of $0.20-$0.30 per kWh for public Level 2 EV charging stations and $0.40-$0.60 per kWh for DC Fast Charging. With an electric car adding 3-4 miles of range per kWh and an average battery capacity of 75-100 kWh, driving a distance of 13,489 miles will cost approximately $675-$1,350 per year to exclusively use public Level 2 EV chargers, and $1,349-$2,698 per year to exclusively charge with DCFC chargers.
Are There Free Public Electric Car Charging Stations in California?
Free public EV charging is offered by some municipalities, such as the City of Los Angeles, with more than 600 free charging stations. However, relying solely on free public charging isn’t recommended as a reliable source of daily charging as options are more limited, lines can be longer, and charging stations may experience frequent outages.
Finding free charging stations can also be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the area, as more apps are available to direct you to paid charging stations, so trying to utilize free charging while traveling can create additional stress on your journey.
Where Are Public Charging Stations Located for Electric Cars in California?
You can expect to find charging options in the streets of major cities like San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, or Los Angeles. These metropolitan areas also have various parking garages, hotels, and other businesses that offer charging for customers and guests, so locating charging in more urban areas is relatively easy.
For EV drivers in more rural locations across the state, California recently invested $40.5 million to build EV charging stations along major highways, a measure that will facilitate access to charging along busy corridors.
Tesla has built a Supercharger network of fast charging stations throughout the state, with locations approximately 150 miles apart along I-5 and Highway 99.
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Map of EV Charging Station Locations in California, which can be sorted and filtered based on public access, charger type (Level 1, Level 2, DC Fast), and connector type (NACS, J1772, CCS, CHAdeMO).
Home Electrification Incentives in California
In 2024, California is expected to offer home energy rebates funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, making $291 million for home efficiency rebates and $290 million for home electrification available for things like appliance rebates, insulation and air sealing, heat pumps for space and water heating, and upgrades to smart electrical panels necessary to enable those retrofits.
Combining EV ownership with other electrification projects, such as upgrading your home with solar panels & battery storage, or investing in a heat pump, will help you save even more while reducing your environmental impact.
In California, you may qualify for home electrification incentives through your electricity provider in addition to the U.S. federal government. Scroll down to read rebate and incentive details for specific home electrification technologies.
Battery Storage
California has a statewide incentive for battery storage. The Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) provides a rebate when you install a battery storage system designed to function during a power outage. The value of your rebate varies depending on your utility company, the size of your battery (in kilowatt-hours, kWh), and whether you’re a low-income customer or live in a high-fire-risk area.
Additionally, the 25D Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit provides a 30% federal tax credit on the cost of new battery storage systems size 3kWh and larger.
Electrical Panels
The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit provides a federal tax credit for electrical panel upgrades needed to complete electrification projects like heat pumps and heat pump water heaters (up to 30% of project costs, capped at $600). The 25C tax credit can be used by renters, and homeowners making upgrades to their primary or secondary home.
Qualifying electrical panels must meet the standards of the National Electric Code (NEC) and have a capacity of 200 Amps or more. This means that your new/upgraded panel must be able to serve a load of at least 200 Amps, but you don’t need 200 Amps of incoming utility service. Smart panels may qualify if they allow you to serve a load of 200 Amps.
If you’re claiming 25D for a residential solar or battery storage project and the installation required you to upgrade your main panel, you may be able to apply 25D to electrical panel costs as well.
If you live in a single-family home with an electrical panel of less than 200 amps, SCE offers a Charge Ready rebate, up to $4,200 for a panel upgrade if you meet the utility’s income requirements. Additionally, customers living in disadvantaged communities who don’t meet the utility’s income requirements can qualify for up to $2,100. Learn more on our SCE EV Incentives blog.
Heat Pumps & Heat Pump Water Heaters
The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit also applies to heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. A 30% federal tax credit is available (capped at $2,000 dollars). Eligible technologies must meet certain energy efficiency requirements.
Alameda Municipal Power offers rebates up to $1,500 for new heat pump HVAC systems installed by ratepayers in their service territory in California.
Solar Panels
The 25D Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit also provides a 30% federal tax credit on the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems.
Alameda Municipal Power offers a $500 rebate for income qualified customers who install solar.
Rancho Mirage Energy Authority offers customers a $500 rebate for installing a new PV solar panel system or expanding an existing system.
Recent California EV Charging News
More Than 150,000 EV Chargers Are Now Installed in California
There’s Now 1 Fast Charging Station for Every 5 Gas Stations in California
Why California Is Spending Almost $2 Billion to Boost Electric Vehicles
California’s Plug-In Car Sales Continued To Increase In Q1 2024
Why Qmerit is the #1 EV Charger Installer in California
With the savings available from state of California EV rebates and EV charging incentives, alongside the rapidly growing rate of EV adoption and public EV charging infrastructure, there’s never been a better time to make the switch to electrification.
The cost savings created by adopting clean, sustainable energy are just the start of the benefits you’ll see, and by partnering with a qualified electrician who can tailor an EV charger installation to your specific needs, you can maximize these benefits even more.
As North America’s most trusted and largest network of certified EV charger installers, Qmerit is recommended by automakers, EV charger manufacturers, utilities, businesses, and homeowners alike. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction, our expert network has installed over 450,000 EV charging stations across the U.S. and Canada.
Discover how Qmerit is paving the way forward for residential EV charger installation and whole-home electrification solutions. Contact us today to find out how easy home electrification can be!