Governor Kathy Hochul said Friday that $30 million in funding is now available through New York’s Drive Clean Rebate program, part of a significant drive to speed up the state’s adoption of electric vehicles. The program lowers the cost of EV ownership for consumers throughout the state by offering point-of-sale discounts on over 60 new EV models.
The goal of the rebate program, which has already distributed over 190,000 since its inception in 2017, is to assist New York’s increasing EV driver population, which currently stands at over 280,000 registered vehicles.
Additionally, Governor Hochul unveiled improvements to the Charge Ready NY 2.0 initiative, which encourages the development of EV charging stations. The incentive to install Level 2 chargers in companies, including hotels, and multifamily homes has been raised from $2,000 to $3,000 per port. The incentive increases to $4,000 per port for underprivileged communities, as determined by the Climate Justice Working Group.
An additional $3 million has been allocated to support organizations hosting EV educational events, purchasing or leasing EVs, or providing free public charging. The program also continues to accept new equipment and network eligibility applications from EV charger vendors, ensuring a broader range of approved infrastructure options.
These efforts reinforce New York’s commitment to environmental sustainability and cleaner transportation, while addressing the need for wider EV accessibility and convenient charging solutions.