Plug In America’s website has updated the state and federal incentives available to Tennesseans interested in turning their commutes electric.
The website breaks down the incentives by category as follows:
- Purchase
- HOV
- Charging
- Licensing
- Parking
- Other
All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. The credit amount will vary based on the capacity of the battery used to power the vehicle.
In Tennessee, plug-in electric vehicles are eligible for the HOV lane but owners must apply for the Smart Pass program and display the decal in the lower right side of the rear window.
Charging infrastructure is available across the state with the Blink Network identifying 265 charging locations within its system alone. For a more complete list including more EV charger providers, please visit plugshare.com.
For licensing, battery electric vehicles are exempt from emissions testing in the counties that require the testing.
As for parking, some commercial and public buildings offer parking for plug-in electric vehicles customers only.
Tennessee also houses the Nissan Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Employing more than 8,000 Tennesseans, this plant produces 640,000 vehicles annually with many of those vehicles including the Nissan LEAF. It also has an annual payroll over $290 million, making a substantial community impact to Tennessee.
Nissan has a battery manufacturing plant in Decherd, Tennessee as well. It employs 2,000 Tennesseans creating thousands of batteries for its electric vehicle fleet distributed around the world. The plant has an annual payroll of $98 million, making yet another substantial community impact and creating high-quality jobs for Tennesseans.