Last updated January 2024

*If you’re a business owner looking to purchase an electric vehicle or install EV charging ports, visit our Commercial Electric Vehicles page.

Across the region, the number of people driving electric vehicles (EVs) has substantially increased compared to several years ago. As the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) displays in its map of EV registrations, there have been more than 3,200 new EV registrations (includes both fully electric battery EVs (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs)) in the Southern Tier over the past three years, which is an increase of 42%. Nationwide, battery electric vehicles accounted for 7.5% of total vehicle sales as of August 2023, according to Wards Intelligence.

Could an electric vehicle be the right choice for you? There are many factors to consider. Read more about electric vehicles and their benefits on NYSERDA’s website. If you’re interested in purchasing one, PlugStar has a directory of recommended EV dealers on its website. PlugStar certified dealers have gold, silver, or bronze medallions in their listing to show they have received electric vehicle training from the nonprofit Plug In America and are knowledgeable about EVs.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE INCENTIVES

While hybrids and fully electric vehicles often cost more to purchase than their gas-powered counterparts, there are incentives to help make them more affordable, whether you are purchasing or leasing a new vehicle or considering a used car.

Used Electric Cars

●      Federal incentive: Receive 30% off the price at participating dealerships, up to a $4,000 for used clean vehicles. (Note that there are generous eligibility requirements, but you won’t receive more than you pay in taxes.) For details, see Used Clean Vehicle Credit.

New Electric Cars

 ●      Federal incentive: Receive up to $7,500 for eligible buyers of qualified clean vehicles (Note that there are generous eligibility requirements, but you won’t receive more than you pay in taxes. Also note that there is an incentive for any qualifying vehicle purchased new before 2023.) See Clean Vehicle Tax Credits for more information.

●      NY State incentive: NYSERDA Drive Clean Rebate: Receive a rebate of up to $2,000 for eligible purchased or leased electric vehicles (no tax or income restrictions). More information on New York’s Drive Clean Rebate is available on NYSERDA’s website.

Eligible EVs

Whether an EV qualifies for the incentives listed above depends on several factors, including the manufacturer, vehicle design, price, where it’s assembled, where battery components are sourced, and more.

To qualify for federal incentives, the purchased EVs must have a battery capacity of at least 7 kilowatt hours and a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds. The Manufactured Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for vans, SUVs, and pick-up trucks cannot exceed $80,000 to be IRA eligible. The MSRP limit is $55,000 for other types of EVs, such as sedans. Also, EVs must undergo final assembly in North America to be eligible. There are further requirements based on where the vehicle and battery were produced.

For the NYSERDA Drive Clean Rebate, the amount depends on how much battery-only range the car has. If that range is greater than 200 miles, the applicant receives $2,000 off the cost of a new EV; if the range is between 40 and 199 miles, it’s $1,000 off; and if the range is less than 40 miles, it’s $500 off. Electric cars with an MSRP of less than $42,000 receive $500 off. Learn more about the Drive Clean Rebate eligible models on NYSERDA’s website.

For more information on these and other requirements, as well as detailed information to compare EV models, visit fueleconomy.gov. NYSERDA also has a calculator to help you compare potential savings.

NYSERDA also has educational information available that explains the differences between conventional gas-powered cars, hybrid cars, and battery-powered cars.

CARING FOR YOUR EV

Electric vehicle maintenance costs   

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, EV drivers could see significant savings from reduced maintenance costs compared to conventional gas-powered vehicles, whose engines run by burning (or “internally combusting”) gas or diesel. The department reported that “the estimated scheduled maintenance cost for a light-duty battery-electric vehicle (BEV) totals 6.1 cents per mile, while a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) totals 10.1 cents per mile. A BEV lacks an ICEV’s engine oil, timing belt, oxygen sensor, spark plugs and more, and the maintenance costs associated with them.”

As for hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV), the Department of Energy said they share some mechanical costs with both BEVs and ICEVs but save drivers money on brake maintenance. See the chart below for more information.

As for the cost of the battery pack within an EV, J.D. Power reported that “EV batteries are costly to replace out of pocket, and the prices can generally be between $4,000 to $20,000, with your vehicle’s year, make, and model directly influencing the final sum.” Still, J.D. Power expects these prices to decrease over time as EVs become more widely used, and warranties for EVs typically cover any part replacement, including a battery, within the first eight years.

Even so, replacement of EV lithium-ion battery packs is surprisingly rare. The insurance industry has done its homework and is largely willing to guarantee that EVs will not need battery replacement before eight years or 100,000 miles. Most lithium-ion EV battery packs are outliving the car itself.

For EVs whose battery packs do end up underperforming, replacement costs vary across a wide cost scale between $2,500 and $20,000. If the battery were to fail, EVs with larger battery packs (i.e., pickup trucks) would face higher end replacement costs than compact sedans with smaller battery packs. When batteries fail, EV mechanics can opt to replace the faulty cells and get the EV back on the road, resulting in much lower costs than the full battery replacement.

EV Charging

NYSERDA has educational information about where to charge an electric car and how to charge it on its website.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Plug In America, a nonprofit advocacy group for electric vehicles, has lots of information, links, FAQs, and more.