With transportation representing the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Irvine (51%), driving an electric vehicle (EV) is one of the most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint.
The City of Irvine is committed to working with the community to reduce vehicle emissions and make switching to an EV affordable and accessible to all. Read more about federal, state, and local EV incentives and benefits below, or watch our Drive Electric Earth Day webinar.
Public Charging Access
Charging away from home is becoming easier every day! Irvine has more than 940* public charging stations. Find a charger near you through PlugShare or the PlugShare app.
*As of March 25, 2024
EV Charging at the Irvine Civic Center: Eight Level 2 stalls, plus two DC fast-chargers, are available at the Irvine Civic Center. Users will need to setup a ChargePoint account to use the chargers. Rates are subject to change, and are currently $0.39/kWh for DC fast-charging and $0.34/kWh for Level 2 charging.
EV Charging at the Great Park: There are 166 Level 2 EV chargers at the Great Park in parking lots 4, 5, and 6, with more to come. To use the EV chargers, simply scan the QR code on the chargers and make a payment through the portal.
EV Charging at the Trabuco Center: Two 150kW DC Fast Chargers and Four DC fast charging stalls are available at Trabuco Center. Users will need to set up a Flitway account to use the chargers or use the credit card reader on the charger. Rates are subject to change based on time of use for drivers using the app (on-peak/4 p.m.-9 p.m.: 0.55/kWh, off-peak/9 p.m.-4 p.m.: $0.47kWh), and price for the credit card users are set at $0.55/kWh for DC fast charging. The 150 kW fast chargers can charge up to 100 miles in 10 minutes, dependent on vehicle brand.
Rebates and Incentives
Federal
Federal EV Tax Credit: Through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, you can receive a tax credit up to $7,500 when you purchase a qualifying electric vehicle for which final assembly occurred in North America. Additional guidance from the IRS.
State
Clean Vehicle Rebate Project: Offers rebates from $1,000 to $7,000 for the purchase of a new EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Low-income residents may be eligible for higher incentive rebates.
Clean Vehicle Assistance Program: Provides grants and affordable financing to help income-qualified households purchase a new or used EV. You can receive up to $5,000 for the purchase of an EV or a PHEV and up to $2,000 for home charging infrastructure.
Clean Fuel Reward: Receive up to $750 for the purchase or lease of an eligible new EV or PHEV at participating automotive retailers.
Consumer Assistance Program: Retire a gas vehicle at a BAR-contracted dismantler and receive $1,000. Income-eligible residents can receive $1,500.
HOV Lane Access: Receive a Clean Air Vehicle (CAV) decal for an EV, which allows single occupancy use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV, also known as carpool) lanes.
Local
SCE EV Rebate Program: Southern California Edison (SCE) offers rebates from $1,000 to $4,000 for the purchase of a used EV. Lower income residents are eligible for higher incentive rebates.
EV Home Charging Electric Rates: Both SCE and Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) offer rates that can help you save money on your electric bill when you charge your EV at home. SCE TOU-D-PRIME and OCPA TOU-EV-1 offer low off-peak Time of Use (TOU) rate plans, designed specifically for homes utilizing EV charging.
Charge Ready Program: SCE provides business and property owners financial incentives, infrastructure, and technical support to facilitate the installation and maintenance of EV charging stations at their multi-family buildings, public sector, or business locations.
One Irvine: Homeowners in Irvine with homes built before 1975 are eligible for a permit-fee holiday for permits relating to sustainability upgrades, such as the installation of EV chargers. Additionally, homeowners in eligible neighborhoods can receive a rebate up to $1,000 for the installation of a variety of energy-efficient home appliances, including EV chargers, solar photovoltaics and battery storage.
South Coast AQMD EV Charging Incentive: The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) provides rebates for the cost of residential EV chargers. The program provides up to a $250 rebate or the cost of the charger, whichever is lower. Low-income residents can qualify for a rebate of $500 or the cost of the charger, whichever is lower.
South Coast AQMD Replace Your Ride: Receive up to $9,500 when you replace your older, high-polluting vehicle with a newer, cleaner vehicle.
Visit Drive Clean California to customize your EV incentive search to your needs!
Resources
Find Your Electric Vehicle
This webpage from SCE can help guide you through some of the factors to consider when you decide to switch to an EV, like your daily commute, number of cars in your household, access to home charging, and what types of incentives are available to you.
Additionally, you can search and compare types of EVs on the SCE website and the U.S. Department of Energy website. You can also search and compare types of home chargers.
Home Charger Installation
If you are looking to install an EV charger at your residence, please reference the following resources for a safe and compliant installation:
- Our Building & Safety division of the Community Development Department provides guidelines for the installation of home EV charging here.
- You can find additional recommendations on how to charge at home on SCE's webpage.
