Why you Should use government subsidies
If you’re looking to grow an existing EV fleet, or even start to build one from scratch, availing of government grants and subsidies can help you accelerate the transition. As you’re probably aware, EVs typically have a higher upfront cost compared to conventional vehicles, but thankfully, government grants offer a way to bridge that cost gap.
Often in the form of financial incentives such as tax credits, rebates, or subsidies, these grants can help you offset the upfront costs associated with purchasing electric vehicles and setting up the necessary charging infrastructure.
As EVs have lower operating costs compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, these incentives can make electric vehicles considerably less expensive to purchase and operate overall, leading to long-term cost benefits. If you’re based in the US or the EU, there are already some specific government grant programs in place that you can use to accelerate your eMobility transition.
US-Based subsidies (The inflation reduction act)
Signed into law in the US on August 16, 2022, The Inflation Reduction Act provides billions of dollars in grant and loan programs and other investments for clean energy and climate action. With one of the main aims of the act being to ‘accelerate private investment in clean energy solutions in every sector of the economy and every corner of the country.’
If you’re currently operating in the US and you’re thinking about electrifying your vehicle fleet, there are various elements of The Inflation Reduction Act that can help you do that.
Tax credit for commercial EV purchase
First off, as part of this new act, a tax credit for commercial EVs has been introduced. So if you’re purchasing an EV for business purposes, it is now possible to receive a tax credit of up to $7,500 for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 lbs, and up to $40,000 for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 lbs.
The exact credit amount you can receive is either 30% of the price you pay for the EV, or the extra cost of the EV compared to a similar regular fuel vehicle, whichever is lower. Currently, this tax credit is set to run until the end of 2032. And as well as purchasing the actual vehicles, there are also subsidies available to help reduce the cost of charging them.
Tax credit for commercial charging equipment
Also set to run until the end of 2032, the federal tax credit on charging equipment offers businesses a tax incentive for installing new EV chargers or EV charger equipment.
To qualify for this incentive, the equipment must be installed in low-income or rural areas, with the program offering businesses a credit of 6% of the cost to the business, with a maximum credit of $100,000 per unit. Businesses can claim a 30% credit if their projects meet ‘prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements.’
Clean heavy-duty vehicles
For municipalities looking to electrify public vehicle fleets, there are also subsidies to avail of. As part of the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle program, $1 billion has been allocated to states, municipalities, Indian tribes, and non-profit school transportation associations to replace ‘class 6 and 7 heavy-duty vehicles’ with zero-emission vehicles. (Electric delivery trucks, refuse trucks, utility trucks, school buses, and day cab tractors for example).
This program covers up to 100% of the costs associated with replacing an existing heavy-duty vehicle with a zero-emission vehicle, purchasing and operating associated infrastructure, workforce development and training, and planning and technical activities.
Low- or no-emission grant program
Through the Low- or No-Emission Grant Program, funding is also available for the purchase or lease of zero-emission or low-emission transit buses, as well as for the acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. This program is available for state governments, local governments, federally recognised tribes and affiliated groups, and transportation providers and operators, with over $71-78 million available per year in grants from 2022-2026.
National electric vehicle infrastructure formula program (NEVI)
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program was also signed into law in November 2021 as part of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This program is providing $5 Billion in funding to States between 2022-2026 to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.
For a project to be eligible for NEVI, it must be directly related to the charging of a vehicle and only for EV charging infrastructure that is open to the public, or to authorized commercial motor vehicle operators from more than one company.
EU-Based subsidies
There are all sorts of incentives available in the EU aimed at increasing the uptake of alternative fuels vehicles and infrastructure. These range from tax benefits to purchase subsidies, infrastructure incentives, and other financial benefits. The subsidies on offer vary depending on the particular country, and you can access a full list of available incentives throughout the EU here. Below we have detailed some of the main incentives available for the purchase of EVs and charging equipment.
For commercial EV purchase:
Portugal
If you’re looking to expand your EV fleet in Portugal the following subsidies can help to ease the cost:
- €6,000 for the purchase of an electric van or light goods vehicle, limited to 2 vehicles per candidate.
- 50% of the purchase value price (up to a maximum of €1,000) for the purchase of an electric freight bicycle, limited to 4 vehicles per candidate.
- 50% of the purchase value price (up to a maximum of €350) for the purchase of a fully electric bicycle, moped, or motorcycle, limited to 4 vehicles per candidate.
Belgium
Belgium offers a different range of incentives for SMEs particularly:
- For N2 and N3 vehicles (light goods and heavy goods vehicles), a subsidy is offered to cover 40% of the additional cost of purchasing an EV compared to a conventional vehicle. This subsidy is limited to 2 vehicles per candidate, covering a maximum additional cost of €400,000 per vehicle.
- For M2 and M3 vehicles (Minibuses and buses), a subsidy is offered to cover 27% of the additional cost of purchasing an EV compared to a conventional vehicle. This subsidy is limited to 2 vehicles per candidate, covering a maximum additional cost of €600,000 per vehicle.
Finland
In Finland, incentives are available for:
- €2,000 to €6,000 for the purchase of electric vans.
- €6,000 to €50,000 for the purchase of electric trucks
The Netherlands
As part of the AanZET scheme in the Netherlands, a budget of €30 million is available in 2023 to subsidise the purchase of zero-emission trucks for entrepreneurs and non-profit businesses.
Under the SEBA scheme it’s also possible for entrepreneurs and non-profit businesses to receive a subsidy for purchasing electric company cars, with a maximum €5000 subsidy available per car.
€36 million has also been allocated to help companies purchase clean and emission-free construction equipment through the SSEB scheme, and through the SpUk-ZEbus scheme, for local authorities wishing to make the switch to zero emission buses, between 2022-2024 the central government is offering a total of €40 million to ease the transition.
For private individuals, the government in the Netherlands is offering a subsidy to purchase electric passenger cars, with €2000 available when purchasing a used electric passenger car, and €2950 available when purchasing a new one.
Scotland
In Scotland specifically, the Scottish government has recently launched the second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). This fund was originally introduced in 2021, and replaced previous funding streams to encourage the bus industry to find new and innovative ways to finance zero-emission buses and infrastructure. As part of the second phase, up to £58 million is being made available between 2023-2026to continue supporting the transition.
Wherever you are, Heliox can help!
As the transition towards electric vehicles continues to gain momentum, with so many governments actively supporting the transition through policy measures and financial incentives, utilizing the subsidies on offer can help you stay ahead of the curve and position yourself as a leader in an evolving market.
As a specialist in EV charging installation, maintenance and operation, and a market leader in rapid charging solutions, no matter where your operations are based, Heliox can ensure that you make the most of these government incentives. Contact our charging experts and discover our turnkey charging solutions.
.png)
