Oregon exhausts electric vehicle rebate funds
After running out of funds last spring, Oregon reopened the rebate program at the beginning of April. The money’s gone now, but applications continue through June 3.
PORTLAND, Ore. — It took nearly a year for Oregon to make funds available for its electric vehicle rebate program after they were exhausted in May 2023. Now, less than two months into the program’s reopening, the funds are completely depleted again.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) operates the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, funded by the state’s vehicle privilege tax. It allows for Oregonians who buy or lease eligible EVs to apply for rebates from the state, ranging from $750 for qualifying motorcycles and up to $2,500 for qualifying vehicles. A rebate of $5,000 is also available for low and moderate income households.
When DEQ restarted the rebate program in April, it had about $8 million to distribute — considerably less than the $15.5 million in 2023. The agency set a 60-day window for applications, from April 3 to June 3. The funding didn’t last that long — according to DEQ, it was completely gone by May 20.
Despite that, DEQ is keeping the window open for applications through June 3.
CHEAPER OVER TIME: EVs versus gas-powered vehicles
“People can still purchase or lease eligible vehicles through June 3, and they have six months from the time they purchase or lease the vehicle to apply for rebates,” DEQ said in a statement to KGW. “However, if they are approved, they will be put on a waiting list to be paid out early next spring.”
According to the agency, it’s possible that the program will receive more funding in the fall, if 45% of the funds brought in by Oregon’s vehicle privilege tax total more than $12 million. If that happens, DEQ will pay out rebates for people on the waiting list — but it will be months before they know whether that’s possible.
Since its inception in 2018, the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program has issued more than 29,000 rebates and $84 million in funding for those leasing or purchasing eligible vehicles. That number doesn’t include rebates issued since the program restarted this year.
