EV Incentives and Installation Resources

A range of incentives are available to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging stations.

Vehicle Incentives

Southern California Edison (SCE) Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle Rebate Program - When you purchase or lease a pre-owned electric vehicle (EV), you may be eligible for a rebate amount based on your level of income.

California Clean Fuel Reward- Save up to $750 on the purchase or lease of an eligible new Battery Electric (BEV) or Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) vehicle.

California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project- California residents can receive up to $7,000 for the purchase or lease of a new, eligible zero-emission or plug-in hybrid light-duty vehicle.

California Vehicle Retirement Consumer Assistance Program - Eligible vehicle owners may receive $1,000-$1,500 to retire their operational vehicle.

SCAQMD Replace Your Ride Program - Replace your older, high-polluting vehicle with a newer vehicle, upgrade to a hybrid or electric vehicle, or get vouchers for car-sharing or public transit passes.

Federal Tax Credits for Electric Vehicles - Taxpayers who purchase an eligible vehicle may qualify for a tax credit of up to $7,500 for qualified new vehicles and up to $4,000 for qualified pre-owned vehicles.

EV Charging Station Incentives

Santa Monica EV Parking Permit for City Lots with EV Chargers - Discounted parking permit available for EV drivers that frequently use the EV chargers at Parking Lots 7, 8, 9, 11 and Beach Lot 5 South.

Electrify Santa Monica Rebate Program - Receive up to $1,500 to install an EV charging station at your multi-family building or small business.

SCAQMD Residential EV Charging Incentive Program - Receive a rebate of $250-$500 to install an EV charging station.

SCE Charge Ready Program - SCE offers three program options to assist commercial, multifamily, and public sector properties with installing EV charging stations (minimum of 4 stations).

CALeVIP Southern California Level 2 Incentive Project - Funded by the California Energy Commission and implemented by the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the Clean Power Alliance, the Southern California Level 2 Incentive Project promotes access to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by providing rebates for Level 2 (L2) Chargers.

Federal Tax Credits for Charging Infrastructure - If you purchase EV charging equipment for your principal residence, you may be eligible for a tax credit for the charging station. This credit is 30% of the cost of 1) the EV charging port, 2) components and parts that are essential to the operation of the charging port, and 3) labor for constructing and installing the charger, up to $1,000. See this mapping tool to determine if your property is in an eligible census tract.

New Construction EV Charger Installation Requirements

EV Charger Reach Code -

Click here for EV charging requirements for all new construction.

FAQ

Where can I find a list of EV models and prices?

ElectricForAll is a great resource to compare EV models, pricing, features, and incentives.

Home Charging Advisor: Look up UL certified home chargers and incentives with Zip code intelligence. Apply for home charger incentives directly through Incentive Assistant.

Used EV Resources

EV Charging 101

Is a permit required to install an EV charging station?

Yes, the EV Charger Building Permit application and instructions can be found here. The Permit Services Center can be found here.

What kind of EV charging station should I install in my apartment or condo building?

The following companies provide a range of EV charging equipment and services, including installation, maintenance, and billing options for multi-family properties:

ChargeLab
ChargePoint

EV Connect

EverCharge

PCS Energy

Note: These are not recommendations. Please out to the companies directly to find the right solution for your property. If you represent an EV charging provider or have a recommendation for additional providers to add to this list, please send them to environment@smgov.net.

Home Charging Advisor: Look up UL certified home chargers and incentives with Zip code intelligence. Apply for home charger incentives directly through Incentive Assistant.

Is my landlord or HOA required to approve my request to install an EV charging station?

In most cases, yes. California state law (AB 1796) requires landlords to approve tenant requests to install EV charging stations in their dedicated parking spaces if they are willing to pay for them. Previously, this law required tenants to obtain a $1 million insurance policy, which often prevented tenants from being able to take advantage of this legislation. Senate Bill 638 loosened this insurance requirement, so tenants in Santa Monica are no longer required to acquire an insurance policy to install charging stations at their homes if the charging station is installed in compliance with the City's permitting requirements.

Senate Bill 1016 requires that HOAs approve the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station within an owner’s unit, or an EV-dedicated TOU meter as long as the condo owner is willing to incur all costs and safety requirements are met. More info can be found here.