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Washington Electric Vehicle Rebates, Tax Credits and Incentives
Washington is one of the leading states for EV adoption, and the state’s plan to ban Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle sales by 2030 will continue to impact electrification significantly.
But beyond the state’s progressive initiatives to support sustainable transportation and drive down travel costs for residents thanks to the low energy rates across the region, the state of Washington has also implemented a number of incentives and programs to foster EV adoption.
In this guide, we explore electric vehicle incentives and rebates across the state and how residents can benefit from Washington state’s generous initiatives to support electrification.
Washington EV Rebate
Washington no longer offers a state-level EV rebate, but there are other incentives available.
Washington State Sales Tax Exemption for EVs
A sales and use tax exemption for new or used clean alternative fuel and certain plug-in hybrid vehicles is available from the Washington State Department of Licensing. The sales or use tax exemption is valued at up to $16,000 of the sales or lease price for used vehicles, and up to $15,000 of the sales or lease price for new vehicles.
The exemption is applied to the sales price or fair market value when you purchase or lease a passenger car, light duty truck, or medium duty passenger vehicle that is powered exclusively by a clean alternative fuel or capable of traveling at least 30 miles using only battery power.
For more information, see the Renewable Energy/Green Incentives section of Washington Department of Revenue’s Incentives Programs website.
Federal Tax Credits For EVs
EV buyers in Washington may qualify for federal tax credits like the clean vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500 for new vehicles, or the used clean vehicle tax credit for up to $4,000. Income restrictions as well as battery component and critical mineral restrictions may apply. Be sure to speak to a qualified CPA or tax professional to check your eligibility.
Utility Rebates For New & Used EVs
Utilities in Washington state have their own electrification programs for energy transition technologies like electric cars.
For example, Clark Public Utilities (CPU) offers low-income residential customers a rebate of up to $2,000 for the purchase of a used EV. The vehicle purchase price may not exceed $20,000 and must be registered in Clark County. For more information, see the CPU Electric Vehicle Program website.
Be sure to check with your local utility to see what programs or offerings are available in your area.
Washington EV Charger Rebates
In addition to the above incentives that are offered for purchasing an electric car, Washington residents can also claim rebates for purchasing and installing Level 2 EV chargers, ranging from as little to $100 to up to $1,000.
Scroll down to view more details for specific utility providers in WA.
CPU EV Charger Rebate
Clark Public Utilities (CPU) offers residential customers rebates for the purchase and installation of a Level 2 EV charger, from $100 to $500, with higher rebates for ENERGY STAR-certified chargers with Wi-Fi capabilities. For more information, including funding availability, see the Electric Vehicle Program page on the Clark Public Utilities website.
Clark Public Utilities (CPU) also offers commercial and industrial customers rebates for the purchase and installation of a Level 2 EV charger, up to $500. Chargers must be ENERGY STAR-certified and Wi-Fi enabled.
Additionally, commercial and industrial customers who deploy a Level 3/DC Fast EV charger may qualify for an annual account credit of $1,500 for each Level 3 charger. The Level 3 charger must be on rate schedule 134 (rate schedule 434 does not qualify for the demand charge bill credit incentive).
For more information, see the Electric Vehicle Program page for business customers on the Clark Public Utilities website.
PUD EV Charger Rebate
Snohomish Public Utility District (PUD) offers residential customers a $200 rebate for the purchase and installation of a qualifying Level 2 ENERGY STAR-certified EV charger. Limit one rebate per home. For more information, see the Rebates for EV Chargers page on the Snohomish County PUD website.
TPU EV Charger Rebate
Tacoma Public Utility (TPU) offers residential customers a $400 rebate, in the form of bill credit, for the installation of a Level 2 EV charger, a smart splitter, or a 240-volt outlet. Applicants may receive one rebate per installation, up to $600 total. For more information, see the EV Charging page on the Tacoma Public Utilities website.
Washington EV Charger Grants
The Washington State Department of Ecology offers grants for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EV chargers for use at public, workplace, tribal, and multifamily housing locations. The maximum grant award is $10,000 per plug, up to 10 plugs. Eligible applicants include multifamily housing, nonprofit organizations, state and local government entities, businesses, and tribal governments. Applicants located in environmental justice communities will be given funding priority.
Additional terms and conditions apply. This program is funded by Washington’s portion of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. For more information, including application guidelines, see the Washington State Department of Ecology Volkswagen Enforcement Action Grants website.
EV Charging Rates in Washington
Time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate plans offer lower electricity costs during off-peak hours like overnight. Below is a list of TOU rate plans available from Washington’s leading utilities.
Special EV Charging Rates from Washington Utilities
Pacific Power offers residential, commercial, and irrigation customers a TOU rate for charging EVs. You can save money by shifting energy use to lower cost off-peak hours, when the demand for electricity is lower. Explore options and choose the one that works best for you.
For more information, including pricing and eligibility, visit the Time of Use page on the Pacific Power website.
Puget Sound Electric (PSE) customers can earns rewards for adjusting electric vehicle charging on days when demand for energy is forecasted to peak. Enroll in PSE Flex EV and receive $50 upfront. Plus, you’ll earn $0.50 for every kilowatt-hour of electricity saved during Flex events. You’ll also be automatically entered to win one of two $250 gift cards every month (except October and April) just for enrolling.
For more information, including pricing and eligibility, visit the PSE Flex EV page.
Public EV Charging Stations in Washington
From border to border, Washington’s Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs) that offer EV charging extend 276 miles along major highways within the state, including Interstate 5, US 2, and I-90, with charging stations every 40 to 60 miles to ensure EV drivers have accessible charging options along their route.
How Many Public EV Charging Stations Are in Washington?
As of February 2025, Washington has more than 2,491 public charging stations including over 2,167 Level 2 and 403 DC Fast stations. There are 70 Tesla Supercharger stations and 782 Tesla Supercharger ports in Washington state.
As mentioned above, the state also has robust at-home EV charger installation and charging incentives that can help reduce the reliance of EV drivers on public charging, provide the convenience of at-home charging, and offer greater cost savings than utilizing public EV charging stations.
How Much Do Public EV Charging Stations Cost in Washington?
A majority of public EV charging stations in Washington use a per kWh billing model. For instance, Seattle and Tacoma offer Level 2 curbside charging for $0.21 per kWh, about the same as spending $2.30/gallon on gas.
The City of Bellingham charges $0.25 per kWh with additional fees for occupying the spot after charging to allow for equitable access to EV charging stations. There’s an additional fee of $1.00 per session when using a DC Fast Charger (Level 3).
Are There Free EV Charging Stations in Washington?
Yes, you can find free EV charging stations in Washington state in several cities. Seattle has over 800 free EV charging stations, and you’ll find over 300 free locations in Bellevue. Spokane has 141 free EV charging stations.
When traveling between cities, you can look for free EV charging stations at rest areas on I-5, U.S. Route 2, and some parts of I-90.
Where Are Public EV Charging Stations Located in Washington?
Access to public EV charging stations in Washington state follows a similar geographic pattern to EV ownership, with a higher concentration west of the Cascade Range.
You’ll find curbside EV charging in major cities like Seattle, Bellevue, and Tacoma, including light pole chargers in Seattle. Parking facilities, malls, and other businesses also offer charging options.
You can expect to find charging stations along I-5 between Seattle and Portland. Some parts of I-90 and I-82 also have conveniently located chargers, and U.S. Route 101 along the West Coast is emerging as an EV-friendly corridor.
Tesla has built a Supercharger network of fast charging stations throughout the state, with locations approximately 150 miles apart along I-5 and I-90.
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Map of EV Charging Station Locations in Washington, which can be sorted and filtered based on public access, charger type (Level 1, Level 2, DC Fast), and connector type (NACS, J1772, CCS, CHAdeMO).
Home Electrification Incentives in Washington
Washington is offering home energy rebates funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, making $82.7 million for home efficiency rebates and $166 million for home electrification available for things like appliance rebates, insulation and air sealing, heat pumps for space and water heating, and upgrades to smart electrical panels necessary to enable those retrofits.
Combining EV ownership with other electrification projects, such as upgrading your home with solar panels & battery storage, or investing in a heat pump, will help you save even more while reducing your environmental impact.
In Washington, you may qualify for home electrification incentives through your electricity provider in addition to the U.S. federal government. Scroll down to read rebate and incentive details for specific home electrification technologies.
Battery Storage
Currently there are no state or utility incentives for battery storage in Washington state. However, the 25D Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit provides a 30% federal tax credit on the cost of new battery storage systems size 3kWh and larger.
Electrical Panels
The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit provides a federal tax credit for electrical panel upgrades needed to complete electrification projects like heat pumps and heat pump water heaters (up to 30% of project costs, capped at $600). The 25C tax credit can be used by renters, and homeowners making upgrades to their primary or secondary home.
Qualifying electrical panels must meet the standards of the National Electric Code (NEC) and have a capacity of 200 Amps or more. This means that your new/upgraded panel must be able to serve a load of at least 200 Amps, but you don’t need 200 Amps of incoming utility service. Smart panels may qualify if they allow you to serve a load of 200 Amps.
If you’re claiming 25D for a residential solar or battery storage project and the installation required you to upgrade your main panel, you may be able to apply 25D to electrical panel costs as well.
Heat Pumps & Heat Pump Water Heaters
The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit also applies to heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. A 30% federal tax credit is available (capped at $2,000 dollars). Eligible technologies must meet certain energy efficiency requirements.
Solar Panels
The 25D Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit also provides a 30% federal tax credit on the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems.
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Why Qmerit is the #1 EV Charger Installer in Washington State
With rebates available from Washington utilities for EV purchases and home EV charger installation, there’s never been a better time to make the switch to electric.
The cost savings created by adopting clean, sustainable energy are just the start of the benefits you’ll see, and by partnering with a qualified electrician who can tailor an EV charger installation to your specific needs, you can maximize these benefits even more.
As North America’s most trusted and largest network of certified EV charger installers, Qmerit is recommended by automakers, EV charger manufacturers, utilities, businesses, and homeowners alike. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction, our expert network has installed over 450,000 EV charging stations across the U.S. and Canada.
Discover how Qmerit is paving the way forward for residential EV charger installation and whole-home electrification solutions. Contact us today to find out how easy home electrification can be!