Electric Vehicles in
California

As of 2026, California new-EV buyers can access: CVRP closed Nov 2023; income-qualified DCAP/CC4A remain — up to $10,000 new/used ($12,000 in Disadvantaged Communities) + $2,000 charging, households <300% FPL; Financing Assistance path up to $7,500. MyFirstEV (SB 168, Chapter 81, approved by the Governor July 13, 2026) LAUNCHED Aug 3, 2026 — $3,500 point-of-sale off a new ZEV / $1,750 off a used one for first-time ZEV buyers, no income cap. Launched is not the same as available: CARB's own wording is that "launch and availability will vary by manufacturer and dealership" and that "vehicles ordered or purchased before a participating manufacturer has made the incentive available will not receive the incentive." Per CARB's published participating-manufacturer list (checked Aug 7, 2026), Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Lucid and Tesla are launching in August 2026; Honda, Lexus, Subaru and Toyota in September; Mitsubishi in November; Nissan, Rivian and Volvo are listed only as "coming soon." Check the automaker's own site before you order. Fine print: BEVs and FCEVs only (PHEVs are excluded), model year 2026 or newer, new MSRP ≤$50k, used sale price ≤$25k and the used car must be at least two model years older than the year of purchase and bought from the manufacturer as certified pre-owned (private dealerships do not qualify). Health & Safety Code §43215 exempts "California-headquartered zero-emission vehicle companies" — California HQ and an all-ZEV lineup — from those price caps entirely, which is why Rivian (Irvine, CA) and Lucid (Newark, CA) are not bound by the $50k cap while Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is. One incentive per person for the life of the program, vehicle must stay registered in California, $135.5M one-time appropriation matched dollar-for-dollar by participating manufacturers, first come first served while funds last.. Used EV buyers: Income-qualified DCAP/CC4A; MyFirstEV (SB 168) launched Aug 3, 2026 with $1,750 off a used ZEV for first-time buyers, no income cap — but availability varies by manufacturer and dealership, and CARB says a vehicle ordered before a participating manufacturer switches the incentive on does not get it. The used car must be ≤$25k, at least two model years older than the year of purchase, and bought from the manufacturer as certified pre-owned; private dealerships do not qualify, and PHEVs are excluded. Federal used EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025. The annual EV registration fee is $118 annual EV fee.. The federal Clean Vehicle Credit (§30D) and Used EV Credit (§25E) both expired September 30, 2025 under the OBBBA.

PG&E Empower EV (free L2 + up to $2k panel for income-qualified); SCE Charge Ready Home up to $4,200; LADWP up to $1,750 The federal 30C Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit — 30% of installation cost up to $1,000 for residential chargers — expired June 30, 2026 (the OBBBA-accelerated sunset date); California EV owners whose charger was placed in service on or before that date, in an eligible census tract, can still claim it on their 2026 return via IRS Form 8911.

California EV buyers can access CVRP closed Nov 2023; income-qualified DCAP/CC4A remain — up to $10,000 new/used ($12,000 in Disadvantaged Communities) + $2,000 charging, households <300% FPL; Financing Assistance path up to $7,500. MyFirstEV (SB 168, Chapter 81, approved by the Governor July 13, 2026) LAUNCHED Aug 3, 2026 — $3,500 point-of-sale off a new ZEV / $1,750 off a used one for first-time ZEV buyers, no income cap. Launched is not the same as available: CARB's own wording is that "launch and availability will vary by manufacturer and dealership" and that "vehicles ordered or purchased before a participating manufacturer has made the incentive available will not receive the incentive." Per CARB's published participating-manufacturer list (checked Aug 7, 2026), Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Lucid and Tesla are launching in August 2026; Honda, Lexus, Subaru and Toyota in September; Mitsubishi in November; Nissan, Rivian and Volvo are listed only as "coming soon." Check the automaker's own site before you order. Fine print: BEVs and FCEVs only (PHEVs are excluded), model year 2026 or newer, new MSRP ≤$50k, used sale price ≤$25k and the used car must be at least two model years older than the year of purchase and bought from the manufacturer as certified pre-owned (private dealerships do not qualify). Health & Safety Code §43215 exempts "California-headquartered zero-emission vehicle companies" — California HQ and an all-ZEV lineup — from those price caps entirely, which is why Rivian (Irvine, CA) and Lucid (Newark, CA) are not bound by the $50k cap while Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is. One incentive per person for the life of the program, vehicle must stay registered in California, $135.5M one-time appropriation matched dollar-for-dollar by participating manufacturers, first come first served while funds last.. Used EV buyers may qualify for Income-qualified DCAP/CC4A; MyFirstEV (SB 168) launched Aug 3, 2026 with $1,750 off a used ZEV for first-time buyers, no income cap — but availability varies by manufacturer and dealership, and CARB says a vehicle ordered before a participating manufacturer switches the incentive on does not get it. The used car must be ≤$25k, at least two model years older than the year of purchase, and bought from the manufacturer as certified pre-owned; private dealerships do not qualify, and PHEVs are excluded. Federal used EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025. PG&E Empower EV (free L2 + up to $2k panel for income-qualified); SCE Charge Ready Home up to $4,200; LADWP up to $1,750. The annual EV registration fee is $118 annual EV fee..

Yes. CA Civil Code Section 1947.6 prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting tenants from installing EV charging. Tenants may install at their own expense. Landlords cannot increase rent solely due to charger installation. This law was enacted in 2014.

The average electricity rate in California is $0.347/kWh. For a typical EV using 30 kWh per 100 miles, this works out to about $1249 per year to drive 12,000 miles on electricity, compared to approximately $2180 per year on gasoline. EV owners in California save an estimated $1,087 per year on fuel.