Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday a number of programs that he feels will help bring more electric vehicles onto the state’s roads — including rebates for buying the car and a home charger — and thus help the state reduce its carbon emissions.
Murphy said the state’s Charge Up New Jersey program will offer rebates of up to $4,000 (down from $5,000) for those buying EVs, beginning Monday. Murphy also introduced a program in which homeowners will get a $250 rebate for buying a home charging station (which generally costs between $700-$750).
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities also launched the next application window for three other EV incentive programs:
- The Clean Fleet program: It provides grants for government entities for the purchase of electric vehicles and chargers. Eligible entities include local schools, municipal commissions, state agencies or boards, state commissions, state universities, community colleges, county government and county authorities.
- The MUD EV Charger Incentive program: It was designed to encourage owners and operators of multiunit dwellings to provide EV chargers for residents and guests. Eligible multiunit dwellings are apartments, condominiums or mixed residential locations that feature a minimum of five units and have dedicated off-street parking.
- The EV Tourism program: It provides funding for chargers at tourist locations across the state, encouraging residents and out-of-state travelers to choose New Jersey to charge up and unwind at one of its many destinations, whether a downtown, Shore or historic site.
Past EV programs have run out of money. State officials said these programs will be funded as follows in Fiscal Year 2023:
- $35 million for the Charge Up program;
- $5.5 million for the residential charger program;
- $10 million for Clean Fleet, $4 million of which is dedicated to local government;
- $6 million for EV Tourism;
- $4 million for MUD.
State officials have said the electrification of the state’s transportation sector, which accounts for more than 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, is a key part of the state’s goal to reduce greenhouse admissions by 50% in 2030.
“With so much at stake amid the mounting climate crisis, it is imperative that we all do our part, not just as New Jerseyans, but as global citizens, to help mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Murphy said. “That’s why I’m proud that my administration is doing everything in its power to make the transition to electric vehicles more financially feasible and practical for working families across the state.
“As we enter Year Three of the Charge Up New Jersey EV incentive program, we remain determined to meet our bold clean energy goals and are confident that thousands more New Jerseyans will take advantage of a program that will continue to bear considerable economic and environmental benefits.”
