New York State joins feds and other states that want to pay you to go electric

By Bruce Brown March 4, 2017

best electric cars Chevy Bolt vs. Nissan Leaf — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Starting April 1, 2017, New York state will begin a rebate program for electric vehicles, according to an Associated Press report. Rebates up to $2,000 will be available, although the final details have yet to be announced.

The purpose of the program is to help consumers who want to buy electric vehicles do so. EVs typically cost more than fossil fuel-powered vehicles, but with the combination of federal and state EV incentives governments hope to bring the costs down. In New York state, both zero emissions all-electric and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles will be eligible for rebates, although whether the rebate amounts will be the same hasn’t been made public.

The New York State legislature approved the rebate program in 2016 but it has just received final approval from Governor Andrew Cuomo. According to Kate Muller, agency spokesperson of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, officials are tending to the final details of the program. They are also making sure state car dealers are aware of the new EV rebate program and the April 1 launch date.

“We want to make electric vehicles a mainstream option,” said Amy Paulin, state Assemblywoman and the leader of the Assembly energy committee. “They are becoming more affordable and we need to encourage them.” According to state officials, automotive carbon emissions are the state’s largest contributor to climate change and the rebate program is a part of the effort to reduce emissions.

The executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York, Peter Iwanowicz, supported the rebate program when it was approved by the legislature and has been disappointed that the Governor took so long to give final approval. “Consumers want to buy these vehicles,” Iwanowicz said. “It’s just unfortunate the agency decided to slow-walk it.”

New York now joins the more than three-quarters of the states in the U.S. with incentives to lower EV costs

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…

Mobile

The 6 best car phone holders in 2024

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Installing a car phone mount in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have easy access to your smartphone when behind the wheel. While you shouldn't be using your phone while driving, having it mounted on your windshield, dashboard, vent, or anywhere else will let you take a quick glance when you're using a navigation app, or to change your playlist when you stop for a traffic light, for example. Instead of having to pick up your device, it will be easier and faster to get these done while it's on a car phone mount for less time of having your eyes off the road.

Cars

Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?

Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.