New rebates available for electric cars

State environmental officials announced that 100 additional rebates will be offered for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles purchased or leased in Delaware.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Clean Transportation Incentive Program, launched in July 2015, exceeded its initial goal of 100 rebate applications from Delaware drivers, prompting the addition of 100 more rebates. Each rebate is worth $2,200.

“The vehicles that have been purchased through the rebate program so far represent a savings of 830,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year that would have been emitted into our atmosphere if these drivers had chosen traditional gasoline cars,” said Climate Section Administrator Susan Love. “Transportation accounts for roughly a third of greenhouse gas emissions in the state."

Reductions in greenhouse gases benefit health, the environment and efforts to mitigate climate change, she said.

Rebate-eligible electric vehicles include the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus Electric, Ford Fusion Energi, Chevy Volt, BMW i3, Tesla Model S and others. Most battery-operated electric vehicles can drive about 80 miles on one full charge and produce no tailpipe pollution, DNREC says.

For more information about additional rebate or grant opportunities through the Delaware Clean Transportation Incentive Program, go to de.gov/cleantransportation.