The Oregon House and Senate have approved a $5.3-billion transportation funding package that includes point-of-purchase rebates for EVs. Governor Kate Brown is expected to sign the legislation within the next few days.

The bill authorizes $12 million each year for six years to fund rebates for the purchase or lease of a new EV or PHEV with a base MSRP of $50,000 or less. The rebates will be $2,500 for vehicles with a battery capacity of 10 kW or more, and $1,500 for vehicles with a battery capacity less than 10 kW. Starting in 2019, rebates will also be available for electric motorcycles and neighborhood electric vehicles.

The legislation also creates additional rebates of up to $2,500 for low- and moderate-income drivers who scrap a car that is at least 20 years old and replace it with a new or used EV. These “Charge Ahead” rebates can be combined with the standard rebates to offer up to $5,000 towards the price of a new EV.

As government gives with one hand, it takes away (a little) with the other – as several other states have done, Oregon will impose special registration fees on EVs of approximately $110 per year. However, thanks to pressure from EV advocacy groups, those fees will be phased in starting in 2020.

Source: Forth Mobility
Image: Nicolas Raymond