Complete guide to New Jersey’s electric vehicle incentive: Charge Up NJ

The market for electric vehicles is expanding, and New Jersey has become one of the best places to own one.

Intending to have 330,000 registered EVs in the Garden State by 2025, Governor Murphy announced the expansion of the Charge Up New Jersey incentive program. 

The program can offer up to $4,000 for the purchase or lease of eligible EVs and an additional $250 for purchasing an eligible EV charger. Keep reading to learn more about this incentive program, and what it can offer EV owners in New Jersey.

Are electric vehicle incentives available in New Jersey?

The Garden State has one major incentive program that only state residents can benefit from known as the Charge Up New Jersey electric vehicle incentive, worth up to $4,000. The rebate directly reduces the upfront cost of an electric vehicle. As of 2023, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles no longer qualify. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) runs the program.

The Charge Up New Jersey program is in its third year, and to celebrate, Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled a newly added rebate at a press conference in Asbury Park. The new rebate offers up to $250 for homeowners to install a home EV charger.

The funding for this incentive is expected to last for 10 years. The program also covers a few other eligible entities like commercial EV charging stations and commercial clean fleets. Another perk of going electric is that zero-emissions vehicles in New Jersey are exempt from state sales tax, which can significantly reduce costs.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Charge Up New Jersey EV rebate?

The Charge Up NJ incentive is only available for residents of the state of New Jersey. To qualify as a resident, you need to have a valid New Jersey license, live in the state, and remain there for two years after the transaction date of vehicle purchase.

Aside from being a New Jersey state resident, the car must be purchased or leased from a participating New Jersey dealership showroom. The vehicle must also be brand new, battery-operated, and have an MSRP under $55,000.

EVs are notoriously more expensive than gas-powered vehicles, so it might be a challenge to find a car under $55,000. But, the NJ website does list all eligible vehicles, like the Audi Q4, Kia EV-6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the Chevrolet Volt.

There are some other obscure rules, like not changing the car's internal workings, so make sure you check out the fine print before purchasing a vehicle. Also, remember that you need to apply at an eligible dealership at the point of sale to get the incentive.

The rebate is based on the vehicle's cost and the car's mileage range, with higher incentives available for EVs with a lower MSRP. So essentially, the cheapest car with the highest mileage range will get you the most money.

Purchase price of the car	Rebate amount
Under $45,000	$25 per EPA-rated mileage range, up to $4,000
$45,000 - $55,000	$25 per EPA-rated mileage range, up to $2,000

Keep in mind you need to apply at an eligible dealership at the point of sale to take advantage of this incentive.

To get the $250 home charger rebate, you need to purchase an eligible Level 2 charger. Make sure you buy from the list of eligible home chargers to take advantage of the residential charger program. It is important to note that you must include the purchase receipt and proof of NJ residence when filing a claim for the incentive.

What EVs qualify for New Jersey’s electric vehicle incentive?

EVs are notoriously more expensive than gas-powered vehicles, so it might seem like a challenge to find a car under $55,000. But, there are actually quite a few solid electric options that meet Charge Up New Jersey’s requirements.

Model	Incentive value	Range
2022-2023 Chevrolet Bolt	$4,000	259 miles
2022-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV	$4,000	247 miles
2022- 2023 Nissan LEAF	$2,600 - $4,000	104 - 212 miles
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning	$2,000 - $4,000	230 - 320 miles
2022-2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E	$2,000 - $4,000	224 - 314 miles
2022 - 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5	$2,000 - $4,000	220 - 303 miles
2022 - 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric	$2,000 - $4,000	258 miles
2022 - 2023 Kia EV6	$2,000 - $4,000	232- 310 miles
2023 Subaru Solterra	$2,000 - $4,000	222 - 228 miles
2022-2023 Tesla Model 3	$2,000 - $4,000	272 miles
2023 Toyota bZ4X	$2,000 - $4,000	222 - 252 miles
2022 - 2023 Volksawagen ID.4	$2,000 - $4,000	245 - 275 miles
2022- 2023 Audi Q4	$2,000	241 miles
2022-2023 Ford E-Transit	$2,000	126 miles
2022 - 2023  Polestar 2	$2,000	249 - 270 miles
2023 Tesla Model Y	$2,000	330 miles
2022 - 2023 Volvo XC40	$2,000	223 miles

Are there other EV incentives available in New Jersey?

Yes, there are local incentives that homeowners can take advantage of, usually from their electric utility provider.

For example, if their account is in good financial standing, PSE&G customers have access to an on-bill credit of $1,500 for installing a Level 2 smart charger. Meanwhile, Atlantic City Electric customers can get a rebate of up to $1,000 for chargers.

When you decide to purchase an electric vehicle, work with your utility provider to ensure you get all of the incentives available to you.

Do NJ drivers qualify for the federal EV incentive?

Yes, anyone in the United States can claim the federal EV tax credit, regardless of which state they live in. In late summer 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed, revamping the available EV incentives.

The federal EV incentive is worth up to $7,500, the total amount of which is based on where the battery’s critical minerals are sourced and where the battery was assembled. If a battery only meets one of these standards, the incentive value drops to $3,750. There are also additional qualifying criteria, such as MSRP and income limits, as well as final assembly requirements.

All of the different eligibility criteria make it so very few EVs qualify for both the federal tax credit and the Charge Up New Jersey rebate. Here’s a list of a few EVs that can likely take advantage of both incentives:

• 2022 - 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV

• 2022-2023 Chevy Bolt EV

• 2022-2023 Nissan Leaf

• 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

• 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E

• 2022 - 2023 Ford E-Transit

• 2022 - 2023 Tesla Model 3

• 2023 Tesla Model Y

• 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

Is now the best time for a NJ resident to purchase an EV?

New Jersey residents should hurry to get an EV before the new federal incentive requirements are released in March 2023. More EVs are likely to qualify for the current interim tax credit, so the time to go electric is now!

Look for cars manufactured in the United States with an MSRP of under $45,000 to get the best rate for the federal and New Jersey state incentives. For example, the Ford Mach-E is a practical choice, and the two incentives combined could save you up to $11,500 on the purchase price.

Additionally, the IRA offers solar incentives to help reduce the cost of installing residential solar panels. If you want an emissions-free life, installing solar to charge your electric car is a great option. Charging your EV with solar panels is the cheapest way to keep your car charged up and ready to drive.

New Jersey is eager to switch to electric vehicles because they are a key part of addressing climate change and can improve air quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The future is electrification - and EVs and solar play a major part in this clean energy upgrade.