Pub. 7 2018-2019 Issue 3

Issue 2. 2019 23 For this reason, most SDG&E customers choose to be on either the EV-TOU 2 or EV-TOU 5 plans. To see how much your EV customers can save in fuel costs, check out this gas cost vs. electric cost calculator at sdge.com/ev-compare. Local, state and federal incentives for buying or leasing an EV: Local Incentives: • Champions for Clean Air Rebate: Teachers and first-responders can get a $1,000 rebate toward the purchase or lease of an EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Learn more at sdge.com/evrebate. • Electric Vehicle Climate Credit: Customers who own or lease an all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle can apply and receive an annual bill credit. Learn more at sdge.com/evcc. State Incentives: To put EVs within the reach of everyday Californians, the state Air Resources Board, through its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), provides rebates ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 to purchase or lease a new fully electric and plug-in hybrid car. The amount of the rebate varies depend- ing on the vehicle make and model and the applicant’s household income. Those who meet certain income criteria are eligible for enhanced EV rebates of up an additional $2,000 for a possible total of $4,500. Under a pilot program for San Diego County, called Rebate Now, EV shoppers may apply for a pre-approved rebate upfront to lower the down payment for a new ride. Learn more at cleanvehiclerebate.org/eng. New EV buyers in California also remain eli- gible for the DMV’s Clean Air Vehicle decal program that grants them access to the HOV lane (carpool lane) evenwhen they are driving solo, with no passengers. The purple decals currently issued by the DMV provide solo HOV access for eligible vehicles until 2023. Federal Incentives: At the federal level, a tax credit of up to $7,500 is available for those who buy an EV. The amount of the credit varies based on the battery capacity and personal tax situations. EV Resources PlugShare app to help locate charging stations There are a growing number of online maps and phone apps that can help locate charging stations nearby—more stations are being installed every day. PlugShare (plugshare. com) is a free resource for EV drivers to locate local charging stations. It can be accessed as an app on the phone or on their webpage. Plugstar.com/sdge SDG&E and the nonprofit Plug In America partnered to develop plugstar.com/sdge to assist EV shoppers in the San Diego region. Plugstar.com is designed to be the Edmunds’ equivalent for EV shoppers. In addition to vehicle specs and photos, the portal provides information about local, state, and federal incentives for purchasing a new electric vehi- cle, EV charging pricing plans, fuel savings comparison between driving gas and electric, popularity ratings and reviews, and more. The robust web portal also links customers to local dealerships whose staff have under- gone specialized training, so they can answer EV-specific questions, such as the amount of a standardCaliforniaCleanAir VehicleRebate, the applicationprocessforobtainingacarpoolsticker orthebasicsaboutdifferentlevelsofEVcharging. sdge.com/ev This is a central information resource hub that SDG&E has created to answer all the questions peoplemay have about shopping for, owning or driving lowor zero-emissions vehicles.