Looking to buy a new electric vehicle? Cost can be a hurdle for many consumers.
A rebate from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District can help ease that financial burden.
The Drive Clean in the San Joaquin rebate program offers cash incentives to people who want to purchase or lease clean-energy vehicles.
You can get up to $3,000, depending on the type of vehicle you’re buying.
As of Friday, Sept. 25, there was more than $1.67 million in rebates up for grabs, the district said.
Here’s who is eligible, and how to apply:
A Tesla supercharging station in Mountain View, Calif., Aug. 8, 2017. Jason Henry The New York Times file What is Drive Clean in the San Joaquin?
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District consists of eight counties in California’s Central Valley, including Fresno, Merced and Stanislaus counties.
The district also incudes Kings, Madera, San Joaquin and Tulare counties, plus part of Kern County.
The district’s Drive Clean in the San Joaquin program provides rebates to eligible Valley residents who buy or lease new clean-air vehicles.
The district’s programs for repairing and replacing older, high-emitting vehicles are aimed at reducing emissions from mobile sources, including ozone and particulate pollution.
How can I get a free smog check?
The district offers free car emissions tests at Tune In & Tune Up events throughout the San Joaquin Valley on select Saturdays.
You can get a no-cost smog check at upcoming events at Koinonia Church in Hanford on Oct. 10, the Kern County fairgrounds in Bakersfield on Oct. 31 and the Stockton fairgrounds on Dec. 5, according to the district’s website.
Who’s eligible for a vehicle rebate?
To qualify for a rebate, you must live or operate a business within San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District boundaries.
You must submit your application within 18 months of the date you buy or lease your new vehicle.
Purchase or lease agreements must be for a minimum of 30 months, and you have to register your vehicle with the California Department of Motor Vehicles within district boundaries.
Rebates are available on a first-come, first-service basis.
How much can I get back after buying a clean-energy vehicle?
According to the district website, qualifying vehicles fall into six categories, each with its own rebate amount.
Here are the six different vehicle categories:
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles: Up to $3,000Battery-electric vehicles: Up to $2,000Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Up to $1,000Natural gas vehicles rated as partial zero-emission: Up to $1,000Natural gas vehicles rated as super ultra-low emission: up to $750Zero-emission motorcycles: Up to $500
You can find a complete list of eligible vehicle makes and models on the district’s website.
Incentives are issued approximately 60 working days following the receipt and verification of each application, the district said.
How to apply for Clean Air incentives
Ready to apply for a rebate?
Here’s how to get started:
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Gagandeep Singh is a service journalism reporter for The Fresno Bee. He holds a master’s degree in politics and global affairs from Columbia University. Prior to working at The Bee, he worked as a freelancer for CalMatters, BBC News and the Los Angeles Times. He focuses on migration, education, criminal justice and the South Asian diaspora in California.