Case Study: Utility Program Expands Access to Pre-Owned EVs

California’s investor-owned utilities are offering rebates to customers who buy or lease a pre-owned EV.

Why pre-owned?

• With over 1.5 million new EVs sold in California, and average new car leases running three years, a used EV market is developing.
• Used light-duty vehicles are bought by over half of Americans, especially lower-income households. Offering a used EV rebate is one way to expand EV ownership, with all its benefits, to these households. 

When buying or leasing a pre-owned EV, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers may be eligible for up to $4,000 in rebates.

Center for Sustainable Energy, which administers EV rebate programs across the U.S., designed and administers the PG&E Pre-Owned EV rebate program.

The program is funded by the State of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program, which encourages utility customers to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions.