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Ohio Electric Vehicle Rebates, Incentives and Tax Credits
In addition to federal electric vehicle (EV) rebates and tax credits currently available in the U.S., Ohio residents can also take advantage of several utility programs to save even more on EV adoption and EV charging. In this guide, we will explore how Ohioans can maximize savings for electric vehicles and EV charging and dive into Ohio’s EV charging options and benefits.
Ohio EV Rebates
While there is no state-wide funding for EV rebates in Ohio as of 2024, residents can still take advantage of federal EV charging rebates and tax credits to save on buying an EV and at-home EV charger installations.
Additionally, select cities are offering direct incentives as well. For example, if you work in Columbus, OH, your employer may offer benefits through the Smart Columbus Acceleration Partner program, rewarding employees who drive EVs to work.
Federal Tax Credits For Electric Vehicles
Car buyers in Ohio 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.
Ohio EV Charger Rebates
In certain geographies across America, state entities and local utilities offer drivers rebates for purchasing and installing Level 2 EV chargers.
Fourteen utilities in Ohio offer rebates on EV chargers, helping to reduce EV charger installation costs by offsetting equipment and labor costs.
Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative
Residential and commercial customers of Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative can qualify for a $200 bill credit for installing a Level 2 EV charger.
Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative
The Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative offers a $250 rebate toward the purchase of a Level 2 EV charger for their customers.
North Central Electric Cooperative
The North Central Electric Cooperative offers a rebate of $250 per Level 2 EV charger to its residential and commercial customers, with a limit of up to six chargers per location.
Firelands Electric Cooperative
As a member of the Firelands Electric Cooperative, you can qualify for a $250 EV charger rebate towards the purchase of a Level 2 EV charger.
Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative
Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative members are eligible for a $250 rebate for the purchase and installation of a Level 2 EV charger.
Midwest Electric
If you get your power through Midwest Electric, you can get a $200 rebate on a Level 2 EV charger.
Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative
The Mid-Ohio Energy Cooperative offers a $250 rebate for members who install an at-home Level 2 EV charger.
Darke Rural Electric Cooperative
The Darke Rural Electric Cooperative has a similar program with a $250 rebate toward the cost of the installation of a Level 2 residential EV charger.
Pioneer Electric Cooperative
You can get a $250 rebate toward a Level 2 residential charger with the Pioneer Electric Cooperative.
Union Rural Electric Cooperative
The Union Rural Electric Cooperative also offers a similar sum of $250 as a rebate toward the purchase of a Level 2 EV charger.
Consolidated Cooperative
If you’re a member of the Consolidated Cooperative, you can apply for a $250 rebate toward a Level 2 charger.
Carroll Electric Cooperative
The Carroll Electric Cooperative will give you a $250 rebate toward a Level 2 EV charging station.
The Energy Cooperative
The Energy Cooperative is another Ohio utility with a $250 rebate on Level 2 chargers for customers.
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative
The Butler Rural Electric Cooperative has a program with rebate amounts of up to $1,000 to help offset the cost of buying and installing a residential Level 2 EV charging station.
EV Charging Rates in Ohio
Ohio has a deregulated utility market, which allows you to compare the rates of different energy resellers and potentially save on EV charging by choosing the best rate.
You can also save by signing up for a time-of-use plan offered by the following Ohio utilities.
AEP Ohio
As an AEP Ohio customer, you can choose between different time-of-use plans. These include a pilot and a standard whole-home program with discounted off-peak hours for all your energy use. Alternatively, you can install a separate meter for EV charging and sign up for a pilot program or standard program with off-peak EV charging discounts.
With the whole-home and separate-meter pilot programs, you’ll pay $0.01 per kWh all the time, except during on-peak hours from 6 am to 8 pm on weekdays, when you’ll pay a demand rate of $2.14 per kWh.
The whole-home and separate-meter standard programs don’t have an on-peak demand rate, but instead, you’ll pay more per kWh during on-peak hours that last from 6 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 10 pm during the winter and 1 pm to 11 pm during the summer.
On the standard whole-home plan, the on-peak rate is $0.03 per kWh, while the off-peak rate is $0.01 per kWh. The standard separate-meter plan has an on-peak rate of $0.02 per kWh, an off-peak rate of $0.01 per kWh, and a super off-peak rate of $0.007 per kWh from 12 am to 4 am during super-off-peak hours.
The Illuminating Company
The Illuminating Company offers a time-of-use plan with three different rates, depending on electricity demand. During shoulder hours from 6 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm, electricity will cost you $0.17 per kWh. During the midday peak from 2 pm to 6 pm, the on-peak rate of $0.22 per kWh will apply.
Lastly, you’ll save the most by switching your energy usage to off-peak hours from 8 pm to 6 am, when you’ll only pay $0.15 per kWh. The off-peak rate will apply throughout the whole day on weekends.
Ohio Edison
Ohio Edison has a similar time-of-use plan and an identical schedule as that of the Illuminating Company. The rates are slightly different since you’ll pay $0.17 per kWh during shoulder hours, $0.21 per kWh during on-peak hours, and $0.15 during off-peak hours and over the weekends.
Toledo Edison
Toledo Edison offers a similar time-of-use plan as the one offered by the Illuminating Company, with three different rates depending on the time of day and anticipated demand.
With shoulder hours of $0.17 per kWh from 6 am to 2 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm, a midday peak of $0.20 per kWh from 2 pm to 6 pm, and off-peak hours of $0.14 from 8 pm to 6 am or weekdays and throughout the whole day on weekends, scheduling your EV charging sessions can help you save significantly.
Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative
If you sign up for the Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative time-of-use plan, you’ll pay $0.30 per on-peak kWh and $0.07 per off-peak kWh. On-peak hours last from 2 pm to 8 pm.
Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative
The Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative offers a time-of-use plan with an off-peak price of $0.06 per kWh from 10 pm to 6 am. You’ll pay $0.14 per kWh outside of these hours.
North Central Electric Cooperative
If you sign up for the North Central Electric Cooperative time-of-use rate, you’ll pay $0.11 per on-peak kWh and $0.07 per off-peak kWh.
On-peak hours last from 2 pm to 10 pm on weekdays in the summer and from 6 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 10 pm on weekdays in the winter.
Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative
You can save on EV charging thanks to the Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative time-of-use plan. With this electric rate, you’ll pay $0.10 per on-peak kWh and $0.06 per off-peak kWh.
In the summer, on-peak hours last from 2 pm to 10 pm on weekdays. In the winter, you’ll pay the on-peak rate for the electricity you use between 6 am and 9 am and between 5 pm and 10 pm on weekdays.
Public EV Charging Stations in Ohio
As Ohio’s public charging infrastructure continues to rapidly expand, the state’s Department of Transportation is utilizing NEVI funding to deploy EV charging locations every 50 miles along the interstate system.
The city of Columbus is leading the way in EV adoption in the state of Ohio with its Smart Columbus program, which aims to leverage public-private partnerships to develop workplace and multifamily EV charging.
How Many Public EV Charging Stations Are in Virginia?
Ohio has over 1,600 EV charging station locations, with a total of more than 4,000 ports.
The Tesla Supercharger network has 50 locations in Ohio with a total of 499 ports.
Level 2 EV charging stations account for most of the state’s charging infrastructure, with more than 1,300 stations and 3,000 ports. There are also over 300 DC Fast charging locations with a total of 982 Level 3 EV charger ports.
How Much Do Public EV Charging Stations Cost in Virginia?
Charging costs vary from one network to another based on the type of charging level and where you are charging. For instance, in Willoughby, OH, using public Level 2 EV charging stations costs $1.40 per kWh, with a minimum fee of $1, while the public EV charging stations at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus are free to use, provided that you pay for parking.
Are There Free Electric Car Charging Stations in Virginia?
Yes, free EV charging stations are available across Ohio, especially near public buildings, or even at popular travel destinations with free charging being offered as a hotel perk, for example.
Where Are Public Charging Stations Located for Electric Cars in Virginia?
Public charging stations in Ohio tend to be located in more urban areas at this time.
Tesla has built a Supercharger network of fast charging stations throughout the state, with locations approximately 150 miles apart along I-70 and I-75.
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Map of EV Charging Station Locations in Ohio, 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 Ohio
In 2024, Ohio is expected to offer home energy rebates funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, making $124.8 million for home efficiency rebates and $124.1 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 Ohio, 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
Currently there are no state or utility incentives for battery storage in Ohio. 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
Utilities in Ohio may have special programs for upgrading to heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. We recommend visiting your local utility’s website to see the most -up-to-date information.
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
There are no state tax credits or utility rebates available for going solar in Ohio, but the 25D Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit provides a 30% federal tax credit on the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems.
Recent Ohio EV Charging News
Pilot Travel Center In Morristown To Open One of Ohio’s First EV Charging Stations
Governor DeWine Announces Second Round of Electric Vehicle Charging Station Sites
73 new electric vehicle charging stations coming to Northeast Ohio
Ohio announces nearly $16M for new electric vehicle charging stations
Why Qmerit is the #1 EV Charger Installer in Ohio
With EV charger rebates and special TOU EV charging rate plans available from numerous utilities in Ohio, 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!