Rebates to buyers of pre-owned electric cars available

As much as $4,000 also available to those who lease

In an effort to make electric vehicles more affordable, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will distribute more than $78 million to California drivers who purchase or lease pre-owned electric vehicles.

Current PG&E electric customers may qualify to receive a $1,000 or $4,000 rebate, based on household income, when purchasing or leasing an eligible preowned all-electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid EV. The program receives its funding from the California Air Resources Board’s Low-Carbon Fuel Standard, an initiative designed to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

The rebate program has no effect on PG&E customers’ rates.

Nearly 500,000 electric vehicles have been sold in PG&E’s service area, representing one in seven electric vehicles in the country. As part of the 2030 targets outlined in PG&E’s Climate Strategy Report released in 2022, the company is preparing the grid to quickly and safely provide power to at least 3 million electric vehicles — or about 12,000 GWh of EV-related electric load.

Mike Gazda, a PG&E media relations representative, said the company seeks to increase its grid capabilities using a long-term plan.

“We’re prioritizing grid readiness and proactively building grid capacity to accommodate new EV demand through a multi-year grid investment plan,” he said. Gazda added that in order for PG&E’s investment to be viable, the company said there will need to be further policy and funding support from state and federal governments.

“To be successful, our efforts also depend upon the continued EV market acceleration and innovation, as well as collaboration on research and development of next-generation technology, and its deployment,” Gazda said.