Short guide for who gets what for EV lease incentives (California)

update: after Dec 3, 2019,California rebate will be reduced by $500. See https://cleanvehiclerebate.org/eng/faqs/what-should-i-know-about-december-3rd-program-changes

I don’t know why it takes me so much time to find this info. Maybe it is useful for some people as well. Let me know if there is some incorrect info.

Here is the info in table format:
https://www.beautiful.ai/deck/-LaftoQMV1_ooQpydWwi/who-gets-EV-incentive-in-lease

Federal tax credit

  • leasor gets it
  • for electric and plug-in hybrid. It does not apply to hybrid or fuel-cell.
  • electric: $7500 (depend on manufacturers. See https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml)
  • plug-in hybrid: varies
    The base tax credit is $2,500 and that requires a vehicle powered by a battery of 4 kWh. For every kWh above 5 kWh qualifies for an additional $417, and the maximum a vehicle can receive is $7,500.
    (see https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml for examples)

California CVRP incentive

  • leasee get it
  • for electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. It does not apply to hybrid vehicles
  • electric: $2500 ($2000 after Dec 3, 2019)
  • plug-in hybrid: $1500 ($1000 after Dec 3, 2019)
  • fuel-cell: $5000 ($4500 after Dec 3, 2019)
  • requires 30+ months lease.
  • demo or loaners vehicles may not be eligible
  • there are income restrictions

California utility incentive

  • leasee get it
  • utilities include Southern California Edison and PG&E. Rules varies.
  • SCE: $1000
  • PG&E: $800
  • for PG&E: this applies for electric, plug-in hybrid. It does not apply to hybrid or fuel-cell.
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That is wrong. It’s 30 months minimum.

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The dealer doesn’t get it. The lessor (finance company) gets it. The dealer is not the bank funding the lease

The lessor does not always pass on the full amount, and some makes (GM and Tesla) are seeing their federal rebates being reduced

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You should let people know that cvrp does not apply to loaners and demos. These are not new cars and are labeled as used.

Also there are income limits though I’m not sure if they actually verify.

I don’t know if this is said in the link; just going off the post in here.

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How do they verify income limit if it is low income?

It most definitely is for fuel-cell.

The base tax credit is $2,500 and that requires a vehicle powered by a battery of 4 kWh. For every kWh above 5 kWh qualifies for an additional $417, and the maximum a vehicle can receive is $7,500.

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I believe they can request information from you if they need to validate income.

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Thanks. Corrected.

Thanks. I have made the change.

Also, I am a newbie in leasing (hence I had been trying to collect information like this). Do we negotiate with the dealers or with the financing company?

Yes. Good point. For people who wants to know, Tesla vehicles do not get full $7500 starting 1/1/2019. GM vehicles do not get full $7500 starting 4/1/2019. The time table can be seen here:
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml

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You negotiate with the dealership. The finance company mandates how much (if any) fed rebate they pass along. That isn’t negotiable, however.

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Good points. Post modified to reflect those.

I need some help finding information for this one.

This article said the federal tax credit for fuel-cell is up to $8000

Tax credits for fuel cell vehicles can be more — the Toyota Mirai currently rates a credit of up to $8,000.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/plug-vehicle-tax-credits-rebates-made-easy/

This article seems to say the federal tax credit is not for fuel-cell.

“The base tax credit is $2,500 and that requires a vehicle powered by a battery of 4 kWh. For every kWh above 5 kWh qualifies for an additional $417, and the maximum a vehicle can receive is $7,500.”
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/how-does-the-electric-car-tax-credit-work

Wow~ Thank you very much. :smile: That is great info to add to the post.

Yep. Good point. You mean the LEASEE still pays the tax on the $7500, right? :slight_smile:

Do you still qualify for the SCE rebate with a fuel cell?

Of course not…you can’t change it with electricity.

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The other thing to remember is that Ca is a big state and many local municipalities have their own incentives on top of the fed or state. There are also rebates for charging equipment. Also remember that low income plays by different rules and if lucky can get an additional $7k on top of the regular rebates mentioned here.

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That’s what I thought, but there was only mention of exclusion from PG&E, but not from SCE.

I haven’t checked but I’m pretty sure it applies to all utilities…no rebates for f-cells.