If you are in the market for a new ride, Memorial Day weekend is a great time to shop for electric vehicles (EV) because there are a variety of local, state, and federal incentives that can help you save thousands of dollars. Depending on your eligibility for various programs, you could save $10,000 or more.
State Incentive of up to $4,500
Under a pilot program called Rebate Now, San Diego County residents can apply for and get pre-approved for a state-funded EV rebate of up to $4,500 before even setting foot in participating dealerships.
Dealers can apply the rebate directly to the price of an eligible vehicle at the time of purchase, in effect lowering the down payment and eliminating the wait for the rebate check.
State EV rebates range from $900 for zero-emission motorcycles to between $1,500 and $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.
Federal Incentive of up to $7,500
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.
Nissan and BMW's Special Offers for SDG&E Customers
SDG&E customers are eligible for $3,000 off on the 2018 Nissan LEAF through June 30, 2018, and $10,000 off on the BMW i3 and BMW i3s models through July 31, 2018. SDG&E coordinated with the automakers to offer these incentives to our customers as part of our commitment to advance zero-emission transportation and help reduce air pollution.
To take advantage of the BMW offer, download and complete this customer information form, and bring it along with a copy of your SDG&E bill to your local BMW dealership. For the Nissan discount, bring a copy of this flyer and a copy of your SDG&E bill to a participating dealership.
More information is available here: sdge.com/EVDiscount.
Champions for Clean Air Offers $1,000 Rebate
Through our Champions for Clean Air program, local teachers 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.
EV Climate Credit
Plug-in electric vehicle drivers who are SDG&E customers are eligible to receive the EV Climate Credit(sdge.com/evcc), which could be worth several hundred dollars this year. This bill credit is part of a statewide program administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to fight climate change by encouraging EV adoption. The deadline to apply for this year’s EV Climate Credit is May 31.
Last year’s credit was $200. This year’s amount could be twice as big as last year’s. What the amount will be this year depends on how many people apply for the credit, so it won’t be determined until the registration period for the credit has closed.