23 Electric Vehicle Incentives Cities Can Implement To Stimulate EV Adoption

Below is one portion of our free report Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure: Guidelines for Cities. This report was produced by a working group of EV charging and electric vehicle leaders led by CleanTechnica and GreenWay. This portion of the report is simply a rundown of potential EV subsidies and incentives cities can use to stimulate and support electric vehicle adoption.

Parking Incentives:

• Free parking for EVs citywide, downtown, or in select sectors of the city
• Free parking while charging
• Parking for EVs allowed in otherwise restricted areas
• Parking spaces reserved for EVs only
• Reduced parking fees for EVs in public lots

Access:

• EVs allowed when other vehicles banned (e.g., during smog alerts)
• Permitted into Congestion Charge Zones/ Umweltzonen, Zero Emission Zones, etc.
• Permission to use bus lanes, high occupancy vehicle lanes, and priority lanes

Infrastructure:

• Tax rebate on installation of EV home chargers
• Reduction in connection charges
• Local grants/incentives to support installation of home or workplace charge point
• Municipal support for installation of on-street charging points where off-street parking is limited
• Municipal requirement that commercial properties and/or workplaces install EV charging stations in a certain percentage of parking places
• Municipal requirement in building code that requires parking garage owners to install EV charging stations in a certain percentage of parking places
• Municipal requirement in building code that requires parking garage owners to allow tenants to install EV charging stations if they want to
• Municipal requirement in building code that requires parking garages to be “EV ready” by including proper wiring and power capacity within walls/floors/ceilings to eventually install EV charging stations
• Time-of-use pricing for EV charging that offers lower rates at certain times (i.e., off-peak times at night)
• Quick, streamlined EV charging station permitting

Direct Incentives for Vehicles:

• Direct subsidies for EV purchase or lease from local municipality or utility
• Exemption/reduction on local taxes for EV ownership, including road tax, registration tax, etc.
• Exemption from local use fees and tolls for EV owners
• Discount on electricity bill for ownership of EV
• Discounts for EV owners at other public activities — events, concerts, museums, etc.

Information and Encouragement:

• Informational website or webpage about electric vehicles
• Citywide EV plan or strategy
• Outreach and promotional events

Related: 10 EV Charging Tips For Cities — #CleanTechnica Presentation