Big Rebate, Bigger Push for EVs
New York is shifting its EV goals into high gear with a new $30 million boost to make electric vehicles more accessible. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the latest round of funding for the Drive Clean Rebate program, offering up to $2,000 off the purchase or lease of over 60 eligible electric models.
The goal? Get more drivers into EVs while reducing tailpipe emissions across the state. It’s an aggressive move toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation.
Easy to Access, Hard to Ignore
The rebate is available at participating dealerships in all 62 counties of New York. Managed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the program prioritizes longer-range, all-electric models with higher incentives.
Since its 2017 launch, the rebate has helped issue over 190,000 discounts, playing a key role in bringing more than 280,000 EVs to New York roads. But the plan doesn’t stop there—support infrastructure is growing just as fast.
Charging Up the State
To make EV ownership more practical, New York is expanding its Charge Ready NY 2.0 initiative. This program offers rebates of $2,000–$4,000 per charging port, with top incentives going to disadvantaged communities. Locations like multifamily homes, workplaces, and hotels all qualify.
In the last year, over 1,000 Level 2 chargers have been added through this effort—pushing the state’s total to more than 21,000 public and semi-public chargers.
Another $3 million has been set aside for community engagement, including EV test drives, public events, and free charging programs.
Building for the Future
The New York Power Authority’s EVolve NY network is also scaling up. It currently operates 240 fast chargers across 56 locations, with plans to hit 400 by 2026. A major new station with 12 fast chargers is under construction at LaGuardia Airport, opening later this year.
The state fleet is also going green. Nearly 600 chargers have already been installed on state property, with another 600 planned. It’s all part of a broader push to hit zero-emission targets and give every New Yorker a reason to go electric.
