Connecticut adds more electric cars to rebate program – Hartford Courant

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut officials have begun rolling out a sweeping new law aimed at reducing vehicle emissions, including adding 10 more electric vehicles that will now be eligible for the state’s rebate program.

The legislation, which increases funding for the initiative, raises the MSRP cap for eligible purchased and leased battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles to $50,000. In turn, state residents who meet certain income requirements can qualify for up to $9,500 in incentives, depending on the type of vehicle.

“We’ve seen a doubling, a doubling of the number of electric vehicles registered on the road here in Connecticut in just the last two years because people … are struggling with high gas prices,” the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. Commissioner Kathy Dykes during a news conference on the new law Friday in New Haven. Dykes said the Connecticut Automobile Dealers Association has seen an increase in customers wanting access to electric vehicles.

The new law would also usher in the state’s first electric bike voucher program. Dykes said the first public meeting was held this week to gather input on how to develop the initiative. In addition, the state agency has begun developing a plan to allocate $20 million to electric school buses — spending that is also expected to trigger federal funding.

Meanwhile, the state is awarding up to $4 million to public and private organizations to purchase and install light-duty mapping stations. The funding comes from a 2018 settlement between the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and Volkswagen for violations of the Clean Air Act.

Dykes said her agency has also begun work on regulations to implement California’s clean air standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, another key component of the new legislation.