#ev-incentives

#ev-incentives

The loss of the federal EV tax credits may have been a huge blow to prospective buyers, but California wants to fill that gap for its residents. Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget for 2026-2027, which was released on Friday, includes a "light-duty zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) incentive program" that details a one-time infusion of $200 million. According to the budget summary, this incentive program is "a critical part of the Administration's strategy to keep ZEVs affordable and accessible for all."

The electric cargo van was great to drive, shockingly refined and offered 200 miles of real-world range. The problem was, the loaded extended-wheelbase model I drove was $93,563. I couldn't quite square whether that was a fair value, given its low running costs, and that no one else really offers a van like this. Now, I don't have to. Mercedes just put a $30,000 incentive on 2024 models (yes, 2024 modelsyou read that right), making them a slam-dunk deal.

The uncertain future will affect U.S. emissions, the strategies of legacy automakers, and maybe the very survival of some EV startups. Driving the news: U.S. EV sales smashed records in Q3, new Cox Automotive data shows, as consumers rushed to tap credits and dealers rushed to move cars. "EV sales volume in Q3 was up 40.7% from the previous quarter and higher by 29.6% year over year," it found.

On Sept. 22, TikTok user @legacy7mama posted a video asking her viewers if she has reason to worry that she will no longer receive a tax credit, likely referring to the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act. I ordered my 2026 Tesla Y on Sept. 9. It's not here yet. I have nine days left in the month until I don't get the tax credit, she explained. So I'm slightly freaking out. Okay. I'm really freaking out.