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New York Electric Vehicle Tax Credits, Rebates and Incentives
The state of New York plans to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales by 2035. In an effort to support EV adoption, several programs available at the state and utility levels are making EVs and EV charging more accessible to NY residents and businesses.
In this guide, we explore electric vehicle tax credits, rebates and incentives across The Empire State and how residents can benefit from New York’s available initiatives to support electrification.
New York Drive Clean Rebate for Electric Vehicles
If you’re in the market for a battery electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, you should know that over 60 models qualify for a New York state rebate of up to $2,000 through the NY Drive Clean program.
A participating dealership can offer you the rebate at the time of purchase or lease, and then you must register it in New York state. The amount of the rebate varies based on the vehicle’s MSRP and all-electric range.
In order to qualify for the full amount, you’ll have to purchase an EV with a range of 200 miles or more, or sign a 36 month lease. If the range falls between 40 and 199 miles, you’ll be eligible for a $1,000 rebate. For models with a shorter range or an MSRP that exceeds $42,000, the Drive Clean rebate is $500. For a detailed breakdown, you can find a qualifying models list here.
The NY EV rebate doesn’t cover used vehicles. Only new vehicle purchases or signed leases with terms of 36 months or more are eligible.
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles allows eligible plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to use the Long Island Expressway (LIE) HOV lanes, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle. Vehicles must display the Clean Pass vehicle sticker, and there is no fee to apply.
For more information, see the Clean Pass Stickers section on the NY Department of Motor Vehicle website.
Electric Vehicle Emissions Inspection Exemption
Vehicles powered exclusively by electricity are exempt from state motor vehicle emissions inspections. For more information, see the New York Vehicle Inspection Program website.
Federal Tax Credits For Electric Vehicles
In addition to the above state of New York incentives for EVs, car buyers may also 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.
Zero Emission Vehicle Grants For New York Municipalities
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) Municipal ZEV Program offers rebates to cities, towns, villages, counties, and New York City boroughs for the purchase or lease of eligible zero emission vehicles. Rebates of up to $7,500 are available, based on a vehicle’s all-electric range and gross vehicle weight rating. Municipalities may apply for multiple ZEV rebates, worth up to $375,000.
For more information, including eligibility requirements, see the NYSDEC Grants For Climate Action page.
New York EV Charger Rebates
In certain geographies across America, state entities and local utilities offer drivers rebates for purchasing and installing Level 2 EV chargers.
Unfortunately, homeowners in New York do not have access to any state or utility programs that provide access to an upfront rebate for home charging stations. However, you can take advantage of a 30% federal tax credit as well as join one of the time-of-use programs discussed below to save on EV charging electricity costs.
Charge Ready NY 2.0 EV Charger Rebate
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Charge Ready NY 2.0 program offers rebates to public, private and not-for-profit organizations that install Level 2 EV charging stations at workplaces, multi-unit dwellings (MUD’s) or public parking facilities. NYSERDA provides incentives on a per-port basis at varying amounts, based on location type and whether or not is it located within a Disadvantaged Community (DAC):
- $4,000 per charging port installed at a public facility (must be located within a DAC)
- $2,000 per charging port installed at a workplace or multi-unit dwelling location.
An additional incentive of $500 per port may be awarded for eligible charging equipment installed at a workplace or MUD location if located within a DAC.
For fleet owners, the Charge Ready 2.0 program includes a $1,000 rebate per port.
For more information, including eligibility requirements, see the Charge Ready NY 2.0 page.
New York State Tax Credit For EV Charging Stations
Businesses in New York that install qualifying EV chargers may be eligible for a state tax credit of up to $5,000 per charging station, or 50% of the cost of the property, whichever is less.
For more information, including eligibility requirements, see the Alternative Fuels and Electric Vehicle Recharging Property Credit page.
EV Charger Rebates From New York Utilities
Commercial and public charging projects can qualify for additional incentives through New York utilities. In fact, all the NY utilities participate in the EV Make-Ready Program, a plan with provisions for supporting fleet electrification, making installing Level 2 and DC Fast chargers more affordable, and prioritizing EV charging in disadvantaged communities.
Under the EV Make-Ready program, you can qualify for an EV charger rebate of up to 100% if you’re deploying DC Fast chargers or Level 2 chargers in disadvantaged communities and meet a few requirements for the type of plugs used.
If you’re located outside of a disadvantaged community but the chargers will be publicly available, the EV charger rebate will represent up to 90% of the total cost.
Other projects—such as workplace EV charging, multifamily EV charging with restricted access, and private pay-to-park lots—can get up to 50% in funding.
Central Hudson EV Charger Rebate
The Central Hudson EV Make Ready Program provides business and municipal customers with installation and funding support to install qualifying Level 2 or DC Fast EV charging stations. Additional funding is available for eligible projects located within underserved communities.
For more information, including terms and conditions, see the EV Infrastructure Make-Ready Program page on the Central Hudson website.
ConEdison EV Charger Rebate
The ConEdison PowerReady EV Charging Infrastructure Program provides business and municipal customers with installation and funding support for the installation of qualifying Level 2 or DC Fast EV charging stations. Additional funding is available for eligible projects located within underserved communities.
For more information, including terms and conditions, see the PowerReady EV Program page on the ConEdison website.
National Grid EV Charger Rebate
The National Grid Electric Vehicle Charging Station Program provides non-residential Upstate New York customers with installation and funding support to install approved Level 2 or DC Fast EV charging stations at businesses, multifamily housing, and workplaces. Additional funding is available for eligible projects located within underserved communities.
For more information, including incentive eligibility levels, see the Commercial and Fleet EV Charging Programs page on the National Grid website.
NYSEG EV Charger Rebate
The New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) Level 2 and Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger Make Ready Program provides business and municipal customers with installation and funding support to install approved Level 2 or DC Fast EV charging stations. Additional funding is available for eligible projects located within underserved communities.
For more information, including incentive eligibility levels, see the Electric Vehicle Charger Make-Ready page on the NYSEG website.
Orange & Rockland Utilities EV Charger Rebate
The Orange & Rockland POWERREADY EV Program provides commercial customers with installation and funding support to install approved Level 2 or DC Fast EV charging stations. Additional funding is available for eligible projects located within underserved communities.
For more information, including incentive eligibility levels, see the POWERREADY EV Program page on the Orange & Rockland website.
PSEG Long Island EV Charger Rebate
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Long Island offers customers an incentive to own and operate direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations. Award amounts are dependent on eligibility year, DCFC power rating, and the configuration of the charging equipment. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, see the DC Fast Charge page on the PSEG Long Island website.
Rochester Electric & Gas EV Charger Rebate
Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charger Make Ready Program provides business and municipal customers with installation and funding support to install approved Level 2 or DCFC charging stations. Additional funding is available for eligible projects located within underserved communities.
For more information, including incentive eligibility levels, see the Electric Vehicle Charger Make-Ready page on the RG&E website.
EV Charging Rates in New York
Utilities in New York also offer special time-of-use (TOU) and off-peak electricity rates for EV drivers, designed to encourage vehicle charging during select times of the day.
Below is a list of TOU rate plans available from New York’s leading utilities.
ConEdison TOU Incentives For EVs
ConEdison offers two options for saving on EV charging electricity rates. The first is to switch from standard billing to the utility’s Time-of-Use program. Rates vary based on demand and production, and you can pay as little as $0.02 per kWh if you charge your EV between midnight and 8 A.M.
The other option is to join ConEdison’s SmartCharge program. You’ll have to install a separate smart meter for your EV. Once you’re enrolled, you can earn and stack a variety of incentives, including $25 after your first three months of smart charging, a $0.10 rebate per off-peak kWh used for EV charging, and a $35 monthly bonus if you don’t charge between 2 P.M. and 6 P.M. on weekdays from June 1st to September 30th. If you successfully avoid charging during all these peak periods, ConEdison will give you another $35.
For more information, including how to enroll, see the EV Rates page on the ConEdison website.
Central Hudson TOU Rate For EVs
Central Hudson offers a TOU rate for residential customers that own or lease an eligible EV. Designed for residents with electric vehicles, the EV Time of Use Rate enables owners to purchase electricity at lower rates during times when home vehicle charging is expected to be most frequent – after 7 p.m. and prior to 2 p.m. This optional billing method converts your residential electric account to a time-based rate, billed at a higher cost during peak demand periods (2 to 7 p.m.) and at a lower one all other times.
By charging your vehicle during periods of lower demand, and shifting the majority of your other energy use to this same time structure (when choosing the whole home option), you may benefit from a lower bill.
For more information, including how to enroll, see the Electric Vehicle Time of Use Rate page on the Central Hudson website.
National Grid EV TOU Rate
National Grid customers can access an innovative TOU program with a tier-based model rather than a per-kWh charge. You can join Tier 1 and pay $20 for 225 kWh of charging between 11 P.M. and 7 A.M., or join Tier 2 and pay $30 for 365 kWh. Both options translate to paying around $0.08 per kWh. Note that you will need an EV or EVSE that is compatible with the National Grid app to join this program.
For more information, including how to enroll, see the Charge Smart NY page on the National Grid website.
Orange & Rockland Utilities EV TOU Rate
As an Orange & Rockland customer, you can earn a $25 incentive for enrolling into the utility’s SmartCharge program and pay $0.07 per kWh if you charge between midnight and 8 A.M. You’ll earn $35 per month if you avoid charging between 2 P.M. and 6 P.M. from June to September.
Orange & Rockland also offers a TOU program. It includes a lower monthly service charge, and rates are as low as $0.02 if you charge between 9 P.M. and 10 A.M.
NYSEG OptimizEV Off-Peak Rate Programs
NYSEG’s OptimizEV Program offers two tiers of participation for various home EV charging routines.
In the Baseline Tier, you can receive a one-time enrollment incentive of $25.00 and monthly on-going incentives when you shift 80% or more of your home charging to off-peak times.
In the Advanced Tier, you can receive a one-time enrollment incentive of $150.00 for scheduling smart charging sessions that includes the amount of charge you need and when you need it by, and allowing NYSEG to manage the amount of electricity your EV receives during scheduled charging sessions for maximum benefit to the grid.
Learn more on the OptimizEV page and the Time of Use Program Calculator page.
Public EV Charging Stations in New York
The state of New York has more than 6,500 public charging ports and 1,900 public charging stations including over 5,700 Level 2 and 758 DC Fast stations.
The New York Power Authority is installing charging hubs in select urban locations and along highways with its EVolve NY program, including a major hub near JFK airport. At the city level, NYC DOT is actively developing curbside Level 2 charging and building Fast charging hubs with its PlugNYC program.
How Many Public EV Charging Stations Are in New York?
New York has more than 6,500 public charging ports and 1,900 public charging stations including over 5,700 Level 2 and 758 DC Fast stations.
There are 91 Tesla Supercharger stations and 854 Tesla Supercharger ports in New York.
These numbers are rapidly increasing as the state of New York develops its EV charging infrastructure.
How Much Do Public EV Charging Stations Cost in New York?
Public EV charging rates in New York vary from one network to another. For instance:
- Charging at a Fast DC charger from the EVolve NY program costs $0.45 per kWh plus tax.
- If you use one of the curbside Level 2 chargers installed in NYC as part of the PlugNYC program, you’ll pay $2.50 per hour from 6 A.M. to 9 P.M. and $1 per hour overnight.
Are There Free Electric Car Charging Stations in New York?
Yes, you can find free EV charging stations in New York at public facilities like state parks and municipal libraries. But access to free public charging shouldn’t be your primary charging strategy.
Brooklyn is one of the best places for EV owners in New York, with over 294 free charging locations. Albany is next best, with around 150 free locations, and Rochester is another standout option, with 154 free charging stations.
Where Are Public Charging Stations Located for Electric Cars in New York?
The state of New York has designated 18 Alternative Fuel Corridors and is actively deploying public EV charging stations at regular intervals along these major transportation axes. These corridors include the I-95 interchange to JFK airport, the New Jersey border to I-95 interchange, interchange I-81 to interchange I-90, and I-278 interchange to Montauk, just to cite a few examples.
If you’re in NYC, curbside charging is available at multiple locations thanks to the PlugNYC program. You’ll find chargers on Bedford Park Boulevard and Broadway in the Bronx and Meeker Avenue, 3rd Avenue, and 43rd Street in Brooklyn.
Curbside chargers are available for Queens residents on 38th Street and Queens Boulevard, among other locations. Other options include Mason Avenue in Staten Island or East 67th Street and Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan.
Tesla has built a Supercharger network of fast charging stations throughout the state, with locations approximately 150 miles apart along I-95.
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Map of EV Charging Station Locations in New York, 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 New York
In 2024, New York is expected to offer home energy rebates funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, making $159.3 million for home efficiency rebates and $158.4 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 New York, 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.
EmPower+ Home Electrification Incentives and Rebates
EmPower+ helps low- and moderate-income households save energy and money toward energy improvements made to their primary residence. Eligible energy efficiency improvements include insulation, air sealing, health and safety items, and replacement of inefficient refrigerator/freezer units.
- Low-income, single-family households are eligible for no-cost energy efficiency improvements capped at $10,000 per project.
- Moderate-income single-family households are eligible for no-cost energy efficiency improvements capped at $5,000 per project.
In addition to EmPower+, New Yorkers are also eligible for Home Electrification Appliance Rebate (HEAR) funding. The total HEAR incentive amount a household is eligible to receive is based on the combination of energy efficiency improvements. The maximum incentive limits per improvement are as follows:
- Air sealing, insulation, and ventilation: $1,600
- Electrical service upgrade (panel box): $4,000
- Electrical wiring upgrade: $2,500
- Heat pump water heaters: $1,750
- Heat pumps: $8,000
EmPower+ contractors can help determine necessary improvements and what households are eligible for through a home energy assessment.
Battery Storage
Currently there are no state or utility incentives for battery storage in New York. However, 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.
Heat Pumps & Heat Pump Water Heaters
The New York State Clean Heat incentive provides an opportunity for homeowners to switch to heat pumps and other clean, efficient energy solutions, such as electric panel upgrades and home weatherization measures. NYS Clean Heat incentive amounts may vary depending on your location and electric utility.
- Cold-climate Air Source Heat Pumps: up to $3,000 NYS Clean Heat incentives for whole home solutions
- Geothermal (Ground Source) Heat Pumps: up to $9,000 NYS Clean Heat incentives for whole home solutions
- Heat Pump (Hybrid) Water Heaters: up to $1,000 NYS Clean Heat incentives for whole home solutions
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.
Solar Panels
New York’s state tax credit for solar is worth 25% of total system cost, up to $5,000. The system must be installed and used at your principal residence in New York State.
Additionally, New York’s Megawatt Block Incentive provides upfront solar rebates for both commercial and residential systems, up to $800 per kilowatt (kW). Your solar rebate amount depends on the size of your system, your region, and your income.
Finally, the 25D Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit also provides a 30% federal tax credit on the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems.