California offers consumers $1,500 toward new electric vehicle purchases

The California Air Resources Board is getting along with electric utilities in the state to provide consumers in the region up to $1,500 instantly off the purchase price of an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid.

The California Clean Air Reward is, in addition, to present federal, state, and regional incentives, such as the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, Clean Cars 4 All, and the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, and is supposed to nudge consumers toward the state’s goal of converting to only non-fossil-fuel vehicles sold new in the state by 2035.

“The goal of the program is to speed up the number of electric vehicles on California’s roads and highways,” said Sandy Berg, vice chairwoman of the board.

“As a leader in electric vehicle deployment, we’re excited to be providing a larger incentive that will further the widespread use of clean cars in California,” said Sacramento Municipal Utility District CEO Paul Lau, in a news release from SMUD. “Offering greater access to clean cars furthers our commitment to clean air and healthy, thriving communities.”

The electric vehicle reward is provided on a sliding scale, depending on battery size, up to $1,500. It can be used to purchase or lease a new electric vehicle with a battery capacity greater than 5 kilowatt-hours.

In September, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles and require 100% sales of zero-emission new cars in 2035 to satisfy the state’s carbon neutrality goals.