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Delaware ramps up rebates for clean fuel vehicles

Eli Chen/Delaware Public Media

Delaware’s rebate program for clean fuel vehicles just got a little more generous.

 

Starting November 1, the state is offering up to $3,500 for battery-powered electric vehicles, which is $1,300 more than the state’s previous rebate of $2,200.

That state rebate can be combined with a federal tax credit of up to $7,500, creating a total rebate of $11,000, according to Kathy Harris, a planner with Delaware’s Division of Energy and Climate.  

 

Those rebates will cover more than 1/3 of the cost for a Chevy Spark or a Ford Focus EV.

 

“You also have to think about the fact that you’ll never be using gasoline ever. So the fuel savings -especially once gas goes up again- is going to be astronomical,” Harris said. 

 

The rebate for plug-in electric-gas hybrids, propane and natural gas vehicles is going up as well, from $1,100 to $1,500.

 

The state is also looking to expand its electric-car charging infrastructure through increased incentives.

 

The state previously offered homeowners and businesses $500 to pay for a charging station.

 

Starting this week, the state will reimburse workplaces 75 percent of the cost of installing charging stations, up to $5,000. For commercial businesses the 75 percent rebate will cap out at $2,500.

 

The rebate for homes will stay the same.

 

“Workplace charging is kind of big gap that we see in Delaware. If you live further away from your workplace than the range of your vehicle, having a charging station at work essentially doubles the amount of range your vehicle can go,” Harris said. 

 

The typical range for an all-electric vehicle is about 80 miles. Although the 2017 Chevy Bolt is promising a range of more than 200 miles with a price tag under $40,000.

 

The state is planning to add about a dozen charging stations throughout the state in the next two years under a separate initiative.

 

Delaware’s clean fuel vehicle rebate program is estimated to be keeping 1,000 tons of CO2 from entering the state’s atmosphere each year.

 

The new rebate will be available through June 30, 2018.  

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