DRIVE+

DRIVE+ provides additional incentives of up to $1,500.00 for qualified Rhode Islanders who purchase or lease an eligible electric vehicle and meet certain income requirements. 

DRIVE+ rebates are contingent upon availability of funds. Incentives are reserved and/or awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.[1]

To qualify for the DRIVE+ rebate, applicants must participate in a State or Federal income-qualified program OR submit the Self-Attestation Form of Income (attached to the application) for those applicants who do not participate in an income-qualified program but meet the income-eligibility requirements highlighted below.

This project is available to Rhode Island residents who purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle from a licensed Rhode Island automobile dealership or from a qualified Out-Of-State (OOS) dealership.

Applicants must submit all required supporting documentation within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the purchase or lease date, including copies of:

  • A valid Rhode Island registration certificate for the electric vehicle;
  • The final sales or lease agreement, including an itemization of credits, discounts, and incentives received (where applicable);
  • Proof of participation on a State or Federal Income-qualified program; or complete/sign the Self-Attestation Form of Income (attached to the application)
  • A Rhode Island driver’s license; and
  • A signed W-9 form.

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

DRIVE+ Rebate Breakdown

The DRIVE+ program allows qualified Rhode Island residents to receive both a base program rebate and an enhanced, income-eligible rebate, as show in the chart below:

 

NEW VEHICLES DRIVEEV Rebate DRIVE+ Rebate Total Rebate Amount
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $3,000.00
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) $1,500.00 $1,500.00 $3,000.00
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $2,000.00

 

USED VEHICLES DRIVEEV Rebate DRIVE+ Rebate Total Rebate Amount
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) $1,000.00 $1,500.00 $2,500.00
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) $1,000.00 $1,500.00 $2,500.00
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) $750.00 $750.00 $1,500.00


DRIVE+ Project Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the DRIVE+ rebate, applicants must participate in a State or Federal income- qualified program OR submit a self-attestation form of income for those applicants who do not participate in an income-qualified program but meet the income-eligibility requirements highlighted below.

 

List of Qualifying State or Federal Low- Income Programs in RI [2]:

  1. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
  2. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  3. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  4. RI Works Program
  5. SSI State Supplemental Payment (SSP)
  6. Medicaid
  7. Housing Program/Section 8

Applicants who participate in one (or more) of the income-qualified programs highlighted above must submit a document that, at minimum, provides:

  1. Applicant name;
  2. Name of the qualifying program (see list);
  3. The government entity or the managed care organization that issued document; and
  4. An issue date within the last 12 months or a future expiration date beyond the date of the DRIVE+ application and approval.

 

Self-Attestation Form of Income

If you do not participate in a State or Federal Income-Qualified program, you may still qualify for the DRIVE+ rebate project by submitting a self-attestation of income form based on the 2023 Low-Income Guidelines [3]

Household Size 12 Month 3 Month 1 Month
1 $35,674 $8,918.50 $2,972.83
2 $46,651 $11,662.75 $3,887.58
3 $57,628 $14,407.00 $4,802.33
4 $68,605 $17,151.25 $5,717.08
5 $79,581 $19,895.25 $6,631.75
6 $90,558 $22,639.50 $7,546.50
7 $92,616 $23,154.00 $7,718.00
8 $94,674 $23,668.50 $7,889.50
9 $96,733 $24,183.25 $8,061.08
10 $98,791 $24,697.75 $8,232.58
11 $100,849 $25,212.25 $8,404.08
12 $102,907 $25,726.75 $8,575.58

The applicant must understand that any false statement made in the submitted information may be punishable as under Rhode Island Law, and in accordance with any applicable statute.

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

 

APPLY HERE!

[1] Rebates will be made on a first-come, first-served basis based upon adherence to application requirements and contingent on funding availability. OER reserves the right to extend, modify, or terminate this project based on funding availability and/or other factors.

[2]If you participate on a State or Federal income-eligible program not listed, please contact the Program Administrator, at Energy.DriveEV@energy.ri.gov, or 401-574-9117.

[3] Income Guidelines are based upon State Median Income calculations with a calculation methodology. DRIVE+ used the Low- Income Guidelines provided by the Department of Human Services FFY 2023 Low Income Guidelines | RI Department of Human Services. OER and RIIB reserve the right to modify, or terminate this project based upon funding availability and/or other factors.