EV October: How PG&E Programs Make EVs More Affordable

October- the month of spooks and scares! I don’t know about you all, but every year, I try to convince myself that I will spend every night of the month watching the scariest movie on (insert your preferred streaming service here). Fast forward 30 seconds, my goals and aspirations of conquering my fear of scary movies disappear with the sound of scary movie intro music (yes, I still have nightmares about the Halloween theme song), and I put on Halloweentown for the umpteenth time.

However, the SJVCEO is not about frightening you this month. Instead, we are laser-focused on one thing, and that is EV October. Within the last couple of years, interest in EVs has grown exponentially, and we felt there was no better time to jump into all the details than now, enter “EV October.” While this month will be filled with informational webinars, first-hand experiences, and program opportunities, I wanted to narrow my focus on an effort that the SJVCEO has been working on over the last year and a half alongside our partner, PG&E.

Within the last 18 months, PG&E has released not one, two, but three different programs specifically geared towards affordability and electric vehicles. Purchasing an electric vehicle and the infrastructure that comes along with it can be costly, but PG&E has created programs to help customers alleviate those costs through rebates and incentives.

Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle Rebate Program: PG&E’s Pre-Owned EV Rebate program can be the kickstart to your EV journey! We deeply understand that vehicles (whether EVs or not) are expensive. As rates continue to fluctuate, you want to find a vehicle that works for you and your lifestyle and is affordable- that is where PG&E comes in! The PG&E Pre-Owned EV Rebate program offers two rebate levels based on the applicant’s household income level when the pre-owned electric vehicle was purchased or leased. The “Standard Rebate” option is $1,000, while the “Rebate Plus” option is $4,000! These are both tremendous amounts when considering the purchase of an EV. If you purchase your pre-owned EV and submit your application within 180 days of purchase, your rebate will be sent directly to you! To learn more about the details of this program, check out our Info Session with PG&E now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ZmX8M2vdc&t=43s

Residential Charging Solutions Program: You can view Residential Charging Solutions as the “companion program” to the Pre-Owned EV Rebate program. Step 1 is purchasing the electric vehicle, and once that is checked off the list, you must have someplace to charge it, right? This is where RCS comes in! This program provides income-eligible households a $700 rebate on PG&E-approved EV charging equipment. The program’s goal is to support EV charging for residential customers and minimize the costs of electrical upgrades. We sat down with PG&E Program Manager, Alexandria to learn more about the Residential Charging Solutions program and how to find out what charging equipment is eligible! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDk8z8mFy9w&t=5s

Multifamily Housing and Small Business EV Charger Program: Lastly, the Multifamily and Small Business EV charger program! PG&E, in partnership with Ecology Action, will install Level 1 and Level 2 EV chargers at multifamily housing (MFH) units, not-for-profit organizations, and small businesses at no cost for sites located in a priority community (low-income communities, rural communities, tribal communities and other priority populations defined by the California Public Utilities Commission and California Air Resources Board). The program includes an education campaign for site residents and employees to increase awareness about the charger installation and other EV benefits and incentives. Check out our info session with Ecology Action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGQYN-_-vEU&t=3s

We hope that these PG&E programs will not only financially support you but also help you learn more about the benefits that electric vehicles can provide you, your family, and your community.