Official State of Rhode Island website

DRIVE EV FLEET

DRIVEEV FLEET provides EV rebates of $1,500.00 for the purchase or lease of new battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles for qualified small businesses, non-profits, and public sector entities, or, $1,000.00 for the purchase or lease of used battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles.

Qualified entities may submit an application(s) for up to five (5) vehicles every twenty-four (24) months. 

Qualified entities for the DRIVEEV FLEET project are defined as follows:

  • RI Small-Businesses [1] (defined as firms employing fewer than 500 employees – Per SBA.GOV definition) 
  • RI Non-Profits [2]
  • RI Public-Sector entities (e.g., State, Quasi-State, and municipal agencies; school districts and public libraries)

Qualified entities may be eligible for an additional $500.00 rebate if located within these municipalities with the highest asthma rates due to traffic exposure, as defined by the Rhode Island Department of Health [3]:

  1. Central Falls,
  2. Cranston
  3. East Providence
  4. Pawtucket
  5. Providence

From the date of purchase/lease, applicants will then have one hundred and twenty (120) days to apply and provide OER and RIIB with all required supporting documentation, including copies of:

  • a valid Rhode Island registration certificate for the electric vehicle;
  • the final sales or lease contract, including an itemization of credits, discounts, and incentives received (if applicable);
  • local business license, articles of incorporation, articles of organization, statement of information, or other formation documents filed with the Rhode Island Secretary of State, or other; and
  • a signed W-9 form.

Importantly, if a qualified applicant does not submit all required support documentation within one hundred and twenty (120) days, as indicated above, OER and RIIB will release the “reserved” rebate funds back to the DRIVEEV FLEET project and a new application will need to be submitted.

The DRIVEEV FLEET Project Administrator will communicate with the applicant regarding their application via email. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check all DRIVEEV FLEET related emails for status updates and requests for additional information or documents required to complete the application.

OER and RIIB will review all submitted materials for completeness and to ensure the applicant meets all eligibility requirements. If approved, OER and RIIB will award the appropriate rebate amount directly to the applicant in a single payment by check within four to six (4-6) weeks from the date of final approval. [4]

OER and RIIB reserves the right to modify the DRIVEEV FLEET project and its terms and conditions and/or terminate the project at its sole discretion. The submittal of a rebate application form does not guarantee award.

DRIVEEV FLEET Program Requirements and Rebate Amounts
 

NEW Electric Vehicle USED Electric Vehicle

$1,500.00 rebate for new Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or new Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

 

$1,000.00 for used Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or used Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs).

 

Purchase or lease a new eligible EV with an agreed upon value of the vehicle at or below $60,000.00*

* $60,000.00 price cap does not include taxes, registration fees, delivery fees, and any capitalized cost reductions including incentives, rebates, negotiations, trade-in allowance, cash deposits, and any other similar reductions that could be considered a capitalized cost reduction.

Purchase or lease a used eligible EV with an agreed upon value of the vehicle at or below $40,000.00*

* $40,000.00 price cap does not include taxes, registration fees, delivery fees, and any capitalized cost reductions including incentives, rebates, negotiations, trade-in allowance, cash deposits, and any other similar reductions that could be considered a capitalized cost reduction.

Leased vehicles (new) are required to have a lease term of at least twenty-four (24) months to qualify for the project.

 

Leased vehicles (used) are required to have a lease term of at least twenty-four (24) months to qualify for the project.

 

Purchase or lease date must be on or after 07/07/2022

 

Purchase or lease date must be on or after 07/07/2022

 

Vehicles must be purchased at a licensed RI Automobile Dealership.

 

Vehicles must be purchased at a licensed RI Automobile Dealership.

 

From the date of purchase/lease:

Applicants will have one hundred and twenty (120) days to provide OER with all required supporting documentation

From the date of purchase/lease:

Applicants will have one hundred and twenty (120) days to provide OER with all required supporting documentation

Qualifying Dealerships:

Vehicles must be purchased at a licensed RI Automobile Dealership*. Vehicles purchased from ANY licensed RI Automobile Dealership are eligible for the DRIVE EV Program. 

*Please contact us about any Out-Of-State dealership purchases before applying for a rebate

 

For additional information, please click here for the DRIVE EV Guidance Document.

 

APPLY HERE!

[1] Small businesses are defined as firms employing fewer than 500 employees – Per SBA.GOV definition

[2] RI Non-Profits are defined as 501(c)(3) organizations, which means they are formed for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes and are eligible for federal and state tax exemptions. 

[3] The traffic data comes from EPA EJScreen. Information provided by RIDOH. OER reserves the right to modify the list at any time based on new data provided by RIDOH.

[4] Processing times may vary.

[5] Applicants will have to wait twenty-four months to reapply for the program

[6] Applicants will have to wait twenty-four months to reapply for the program