Electric Vehicle Incentives & Programs

Avista installs EV charging infrastructure at your business. Under this program, Avista pays make-ready infrastructure costs up to the charger by paying 100% of dedicated installation costs up to $5,000 per port connection. Customers are responsible for the remainder of the installation costs, non-dedicated equipment, and purchasing, owning, and maintaining the charging equipment.

Customers provide feedback through periodic surveys and assist with load management efforts.

Avista coordinates with qualified electricians to make this an easy process for customers.

Eligibility Requirements:

Avista helps install EV charging stations at your business. Under this program, Avista installs non-networked AC Level-2 chargers at your business and pays 75 percent of the dedicated installation costs up to $5,000 per port connection. Customers are responsible for the remainder of the installation costs.

Customers provide feedback through periodic surveys and assist with load management efforts.

Avista coordinates with qualified electricians to make this an easy process for customers.

Eligibility Requirements:

Avista has an incentive for businesses to buy or lease electric forklifts, making it easy for you to reap the price, performance and environmental benefits of electrification

Avista’s forklift incentive program is offered through local equipment dealers and is easy for your business to participate in. When your organization is purchasing or leasing a new or used forklift, just ask your local forklift equipment dealer about our program. Avista will provide your business with an "instant rebate" of $2,000.00 to buy a forklift with lead acid electric batteries, or alternatively, a $3,000.00 incentive to buy one with lithium-ion batteries. The dealer will credit your sales receipt with these instant rebates, and handle all the rebate-processing paperwork, making it easy for you. When you combine this Avista incentive with average annual “energy/fuel” savings of $2,600 per year, you’ll realize the total cost of ownership of an electric forklift is much less expensive than its propane or diesel counterparts.

Businesses and tax-exempt organizations that buy a qualified commercial clean vehicle may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit of up to $40,000 under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 45W. The credit equals the lesser of:

• 15% of your basis in the vehicle (30% if the vehicle is not powered by gas or diesel)
• The incremental cost of the vehicle

Qualified vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) of under 14,000 pounds have a maximum credit of $7,500.

Plug-in electric vehicles must draw significant propulsion from an electric motor with a battery capacity of at least:

• 7 kilowatt hours if the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is under 14,000 pounds
• 15 kilowatt hours if the GVWR is 14,000 pounds or more

Businesses are eligible to receive a Federal Tax Credit for alternative fueling infrastructure including EV charging stations. Tax credits for qualified alternative fueling infrastructure are up to 30% of the cost to purchase and install the infrastructure. Fueling station owners who install qualified equipment at multiple sites are allowed to use the credit towards each location. Consult with your tax professional to see how these credits apply to your business.

Available to anyone who purchases an electric vehicle battery or fuel cell, or installs an electric vehicle battery, fuel cell charging station, or hydrogen fueling stations.

A sales tax exemption is available for purchases on or after July 28, 2019, and the use tax exemption is available on purchases on or after Aug. 1, 2019.

This program applies to businesses that use commercial vehicles to transport commodities, merchandise, produce, refuse, freight, animals or passengers, using vehicles that use clean alternative fuel. The vehicle must display a WA license plate.

For help completing the application for credit, call the Taxpayer Account Administration Division at 360-705-6214.

For help claiming the credit on your excise tax return, call 360-705-6705

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) offers grants for projects that reduce the carbon intensity of the Washington transportation system, including fleet electrification, modification or replacement of facilities to facilitate fleet electrification and hydrogen fueling, upgrades to electrical transmission and distribution systems, and constructing of charging and fueling infrastructure.

To be eligible, a transit authority must provide matching funding of at least 20% of the total cost of the project. Priority will be given to projects that serve overburdened communities and underserved populations. For more information, including funding availability and program dates, see the WSDOT Green Transportation Capital Grants website.

The Washington State Department of Commerce offers grants for the purchase and installation of Level 2 and direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations for use at public, workplace, tribal, and multi-unit dwelling (MUD) locations.

Eligible applicants include MUDs, retail electric utilities, non-profits, government entities, and tribal governments. Low-income applicants will be given funding priority. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, including application guidelines, see the Washington State Department of Commerce Washington State EV Charging Program website.

All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on December 1, 2023.

The Washington State Department of Ecology offers grants for the replacement or repower of medium- and heavy-duty diesel refuse trucks, street sweepers, freight switcher locomotives, port cargo handling equipment, and forklifts with zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) and associated infrastructure.

Eligible applicants include local and state government entities, utilities, port authorities, school districts, universities, and tribal governments. Applicants located in environmental justice communities will be given funding priority. Additional terms and conditions apply.

The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program funds grants and rebates that protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines. The program solicits applications for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions and exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas.

EPA: Clean School Bus Program

The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. This program is supported with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,

The Airport Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) and Infrastructure Pilot Program improves airport air quality and facilitates use of zero emissions technologies at airports. Created in 2012, the program allows airport sponsors to use Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to purchase ZEVs and to construct or modify infrastructure needed to use ZEVs.

Grant funding must be used for airport-owned, on-road vehicles used exclusively for airport purposes. Vehicles and infrastructure must meet the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program requirements, including Buy American requirements.

FTA provides grants to local public transit systems, including buses, subways, light rail, commuter rail, trolleys and ferries. Since 1964, FTA has partnered with state and local governments to create and enhance public transportation systems, investing more than $13 billion annually to support and expand public transit services. FTA provides annual formula grants to transit agencies nationwide as well as discretionary funding in competitive processes.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was signed into law by President Biden in November 2021 and is the largest federal investment in public transportation in the nation’s history. The legislation reauthorizes surface transportation programs for FY 2022-2026 and provides advance appropriations for certain programs. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorizes up to $108 billion to support federal public transportation programs, including $91 billion in guaranteed funding.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) is accepting applications for the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Funded programs.

The 2020 Vehicle Replacement Program will replace older, higher emissions diesel vehicles or engines with cleaner electric, alternative fuel, or diesel vehicles or engines. This competitive application program will provide reimbursement for a percentage of the cost of eligible vehicle replacements. Vehicle types include buses, freight trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles, as well as forklifts and airport supply equipment.

The Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) program will provide cost-shared funds with some strategic locations within Idaho for DC fast charger equipment. These locations will create a network of highways in Idaho that offer electric vehicle charging services to the public.