§ 2901. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Adaptive electric cycle” means an electric bicycle or an electric cargo bicycle that
has been modified to meet the physical needs or abilities of the operator or a passenger.
(2) “Electric bicycle” has the same meaning as in 23 V.S.A. § 4(46)(A).
(3) “Electric cargo bicycle” means a motor-assisted bicycle, as defined in 23 V.S.A. § 4(45)(B)(i), with an electric motor, as defined under 23 V.S.A. § 4(45)(B)(i)(II), that is specifically designed and constructed for transporting loads, including
at least one or more of the following: goods, one or more individuals in addition
to the operator, or one or more animals. A motor-assisted bicycle that is not specifically
designed and constructed for transporting loads, including a motor-assisted bicycle
that is only capable of transporting loads because an accessory rear or front bicycle
rack has been installed, is not an electric cargo bicycle.
(4) “Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)” and “electric vehicle supply equipment
available to the public” have the same meanings as in 30 V.S.A. § 201.
(5) “Plug-in electric vehicle (PEV),” “battery electric vehicle (BEV),” and “plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle (PHEV)” have the same meanings as in 23 V.S.A. § 4(85). (Added 2023, No. 62, § 19, eff. July 1, 2023; amended 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2902. Incentive Program for New Plug-In Electric Vehicles
(a) Creation; administration.
(1) There is created the Incentive Program for New Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEVs), which
shall be administered by the Agency of Transportation.
(2) Subject to State procurement requirements, the Agency may retain a contractor or contractors
to assist with marketing, program development, and administration of the Program.
(b) Program structure. The Incentive Program for New PEVs shall structure PEV purchase and lease incentive
payments by income to help all Vermonters benefit from electric driving, including
Vermont’s most vulnerable. Specifically, the Incentive Program for New PEVs:
(1) shall apply to both purchases and leases of new PEVs with an emphasis on incentivizing
the purchase and lease of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles (PHEVs) with an electric range of 20 miles or greater per complete charge
as rated by the Environmental Protection Agency when the vehicle was new;
(2) shall provide not more than one incentive of not more than $3,000.00 for a PEV, per
individual per year, to:
(A) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is single
with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater than $60,000.00
and at or below $100,000.00;
(B) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is head
of household with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater
than $75,000.00 and at or below $125,000.00;
(C) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is surviving
spouse with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater than
$90,000.00 and at or below $150,000.00;
(D) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State whose federal income tax filing status is married filing jointly with an
adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater than $90,000.00
and at or below $150,000.00; or
(E) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State and at least one spouse whose federal income tax filing status is married
filing separately with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States
greater than $60,000.00 and at or below $100,000.00;
(3) shall provide not more than one incentive of not more than $6,000.00 for a PEV, per
individual per year, to:
(A) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is single
with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at or below $60,000.00;
(B) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is head
of household with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at
or below $75,000.00;
(C) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is surviving
spouse with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at or below
$90,000.00;
(D) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State whose federal income tax filing status is married filing jointly with an
adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at or below $90,000.00;
or
(E) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State and at least one spouse whose federal income tax filing status is married
filing separately with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States
at or below $60,000.00;
(4) shall, as technology progresses, establish a minimum electric range in order for a
PHEV to be eligible for an incentive;
(5) shall apply to:
(A) manufactured PEVs with any base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) that
will be issued a special registration plate by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
pursuant to 23 V.S.A. § 304a or will predominately be used to provide accessible transportation for the incentive
recipient or a member of the incentive recipient’s household, provided that the incentive
recipient or the member of the incentive recipient’s household has a removable windshield
placard issued by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to 23 V.S.A. § 304a;
(B) manufactured PHEVs with a base MSRP as determined by the Agency of Transportation
and meeting the following requirements:
(i) shall not exceed a base MSRP of $55,000.00;
(ii) shall phase out incentives for PHEVs with an electric range of less than 20 miles
as rated by the Environmental Protection Agency when the vehicle was new; and
(iii) shall be benchmarked to a base MSRP of the equivalent of approximately $50,000.00
or less in model year 2023; and
(C) manufactured BEVs with a base MSRP as determined by the Agency of Transportation and
meeting the following requirements:
(i) shall not exceed a base MSRP of $55,000.00; and
(ii) shall be benchmarked to a base MSRP of the equivalent of approximately $50,000.00
or less in model year 2023; and
(6) shall provide incentives that may be in addition to any other available incentives,
including through another program funded by the State, provided that not more than
one incentive under the Incentive Program for New PEVs is used for the purchase or
lease of any one PEV.
(c) Administrative costs. Up to 15 percent of any appropriations for the Incentive Program for New PEVs may
be used for any costs associated with administering and promoting the Incentive Program
for New PEVs.
(d) Outreach and marketing. The Agency, in consultation with any retained contractors, shall ensure that there
is sufficient outreach and marketing, including the use of translation and interpretation
services, of the Incentive Program for New PEVs so that Vermonters who are eligible
for an incentive can easily learn how to secure as many different incentives as are
available, and such costs shall be considered administrative costs for purposes of
subsection (c) of this section. (Added 2023, No. 62, § 19, eff. July 1, 2023.)
§ 2903. MileageSmart
(a) Creation; administration.
(1) There is created a used high fuel efficiency vehicle incentive program, which shall
be administered by the Agency of Transportation and known as MileageSmart.
(2) Subject to State procurement requirements, the Agency may retain a contractor or contractors
to assist with marketing, program development, and administration of MileageSmart.
(b) Program structure. MileageSmart shall structure high fuel efficiency purchase incentive payments by income
to help all Vermonters benefit from more efficient driving and reduced greenhouse
gas emissions, including Vermont’s most vulnerable. Specifically, MileageSmart shall:
(1) apply to purchases of used high fuel-efficient motor vehicles, which for purposes
of this program shall be pleasure cars with a combined city/highway fuel efficiency
of at least 40 miles per gallon or miles-per-gallon equivalent as rated by the Environmental
Protection Agency when the vehicle was new; and
(2) provide not more than one point-of-sale voucher worth up to $5,000.00 to an individual
who is a member of a household with an adjusted gross income that is at or below 80
percent of the State median income; provided, however, that the Agency of Transportation
may reduce the income eligibility threshold based on available funding or applicant
volume, or both, in order to prioritize vouchers for households with lower income.
(c) EV infrastructure fees. For the first year that a plug-in electric vehicle, as defined in 23 V.S.A. § 4(85), purchased through MileageSmart is subject to the EV infrastructure fee pursuant
to 23 V.S.A. § 361(b) or (c), the amount of the fee shall be an eligible expense under MileageSmart; provided,
however, that this expense eligibility shall expire at such time as a mileage-based
user fee for pleasure cars that are battery electric vehicles, as defined in 23 V.S.A. § 4(85)(A), takes effect in Vermont.
(d) Administrative costs. Up to 15 percent of any appropriations for MileageSmart may be used for any costs
associated with administering and promoting MileageSmart.
(e) Outreach and marketing. The Agency, in consultation with any retained contractors, shall ensure that there
is sufficient outreach and marketing, including the use of translation and interpretation
services, of MileageSmart so that Vermonters who are eligible for an incentive can
easily learn how to secure as many different incentives as are available, and such
costs shall be considered administrative costs for purposes of subsection (d) of this
section. (Added 2023, No. 62, § 19, eff. July 1, 2023; amended 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 43, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2904. Replace Your Ride Program
(a) Creation; administration.
(1) There is created the Replace Your Ride Program, which shall be administered by the
Agency of Transportation.
(2) Subject to State procurement requirements, the Agency may retain a contractor or contractors
to assist with marketing, program development, and administration of the Program.
(b) Program structure. The Replace Your Ride Program shall structure incentive payments by income to help
all Vermonters benefit from replacing lower efficient modes of transportation with
modes of transportation that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Agency may apply
a sliding scale incentive based on electric range, with larger incentives being available
for PEVs with a longer electric range.
(c) Incentive amount. The Replace Your Ride Program shall provide up to a $2,500.00 incentive for those
who qualify under subdivision (d)(1)(A) of this section and up to a $5,000.00 incentive
for those who qualify under subdivision (d)(1)(B) of this section, either of which
may be in addition to any other available incentives, including through a program
funded by the State, to individuals who qualify based on both income and the removal
of an internal combustion vehicle. Only one incentive per individual is available
under the Replace Your Ride Program.
(d) Eligibility. Applicants must qualify through both income and the removal of an eligible vehicle
with an internal combustion engine.
(1) Income eligibility.
(A) The lower incentive amount of up to $2,500.00 is available to the following, provided
that all other eligibility requirements are met:
(i) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is single
with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater than $60,000.00
and at or below $100,000.00;
(ii) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is head
of household with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater
than $75,000.00 and at or below $125,000.00;
(iii) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is surviving
spouse with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater than
$90,000.00 and at or below $150,000.00;
(iv) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State whose federal income tax filing status is married filing jointly with an
adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States greater than $90,000.00
and at or below $150,000.00; or
(v) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State and at least one spouse whose federal income tax filing status is married
filing separately with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States
greater than $60,000.00 and at or below $100,000.00.
(B) The higher incentive amount of up to $5,000.00 is available to the following, provided
that all other eligibility requirements are met:
(i) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is single
with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at or below $60,000.00;
(ii) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is head
of household with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at
or below $75,000.00;
(iii) an individual domiciled in the State whose federal income tax filing status is surviving
spouse with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at or below
$90,000.00;
(iv) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State whose federal income tax filing status is married filing jointly with an
adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States at or below $90,000.00;
(v) an individual who is part of a married couple with at least one spouse domiciled in
the State and at least one spouse whose federal income tax filing status is married
filing separately with an adjusted gross income under the laws of the United States
at or below $60,000.00; or
(vi) an individual who is a member of a household with an adjusted gross income that is
at or below 80 percent of the State median income.
(2) Vehicle removal.
(A) In order for an individual to qualify for an incentive under the Replace Your Ride
Program, the individual must remove an older low-efficiency vehicle from operation
and switch to a mode of transportation that produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
The entity that administers the Replace Your Ride Program, in conjunction with the
Agency of Transportation, shall establish Program guidelines that specifically provide
for how someone can show that the vehicle removal eligibility requirement has been,
or will be, met.
(B) For purposes of the Replace Your Ride Program:
(i) An “older low-efficiency vehicle”:
(I) is currently registered, and has been for two years prior to the date of application,
with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles;
(II) is currently titled in the name of the applicant and has been for at least one year
prior to the date of application;
(III) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less;
(IV) is at least 10 model years old;
(V) has an internal combustion engine; and
(VI) passed the annual inspection required under 23 V.S.A. § 1222 within the prior 18 months.
(ii) Removing the older low-efficiency vehicle from operation must be done by disabling
the vehicle’s engine from further use and fully dismantling the vehicle for either
donation to a nonprofit organization to be used for parts or destruction.
(iii) The following qualify as a switch to a mode of transportation that produces fewer
greenhouse gas emissions:
(I) purchasing or leasing a new or used PEV;
(II) purchasing a new or used bicycle, electric bicycle, electric cargo bicycle, adaptive
electric cycle, or motorcycle that is fully electric, and the necessary safety equipment;
and
(III) utilizing shared-mobility services.
(e) Administrative costs. Up to 15 percent of any appropriations for the Replace Your Ride Program may be used
for any costs associated with administering and promoting the Replace Your Ride Program.
(f) Outreach and marketing. The Agency, in consultation with any retained contractors, shall ensure that there
is sufficient outreach and marketing, including the use of translation and interpretation
services, of the Replace Your Ride Program so that Vermonters who are eligible for
an incentive can easily learn how to secure as many different incentives as are available
and such costs shall be considered administrative costs for purposes of subsection
(e) of this section. (Added 2023, No. 62, § 19, eff. July 1, 2023; amended 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2904a. Replace Your Ride Program flexibility; emergencies
Notwithstanding subdivisions 2904(d)(2)(A) and (d)(2)(B)(i)(IV)–(VI) of this chapter,
the Agency of Transportation is authorized to waive or modify the eligibility requirements
for the Replace Your Ride Program under subdivisions (d)(2)(B)(i)(IV)–(VI) that pertain
to the removal of an eligible vehicle as required under subdivision 2904(d)(2)(A)
of this chapter provided that:
(1) the Governor has declared a state of emergency under 20 V.S.A. chapter 1 and, due
to the event or events underlying the state of emergency, motor vehicles registered
in Vermont have been damaged or totaled;
(2) the waived or modified eligibility requirements are prominently posted on any websites
maintained by or at the direction of the Agency for purposes of providing information
on the vehicle incentive programs;
(3) the waived or modified eligibility requirements are only applicable:
(A) upon a showing that the applicant for an incentive under the Replace Your Ride Program
was a registered owner of a motor vehicle that was damaged or totaled due to the event
or events underlying the state of emergency at the time of the event or events underlying
the state of emergency; and
(B) for six months after the conclusion of the state of emergency; and
(4) the waiver or modification of eligibility requirements and resulting impact are addressed
in the annual reporting required under section 2905 of this chapter. (Added 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 18, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2905. Annual reporting; vehicle incentive programs
(a) The Agency shall annually evaluate the programs established under sections 2902–2904
of this chapter to gauge effectiveness and shall submit a written report on the effectiveness
of the programs and the State’s marketing and outreach efforts related to the programs
to the House and Senate Committees on Transportation, the House Committee on Energy
and Digital Infrastructure, and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy
on or before January 31 in each year following a year that an incentive was provided
through one of the programs.
(b) The report shall also include:
(1) any intended modifications to program guidelines for the upcoming fiscal year along
with an explanation for the reasoning behind the modifications and how the modifications
will yield greater uptake of PEVs and other means of transportation that will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions;
(2) any recommendations on statutory modifications to the programs, including to income
and vehicle eligibility, along with an explanation for the reasoning behind the statutory
modification recommendations and how the modifications will yield greater uptake of
PEVs and other means of transportation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
and
(3) any recommendations for how to better conduct outreach and marketing to ensure the
greatest possible uptake of incentives under the programs.
(c) Notwithstanding 2 V.S.A. § 20(d), the annual report required under this section shall continue to be required if an
incentive is provided through one of the programs unless the General Assembly takes
specific action to repeal the report requirement. (Added 2023, No. 62, § 19, eff. July 1, 2023; amended 2023, No. 85 (Adj. Sess.), § 58, eff. July 1, 2024; 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 21, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2906. Electric vehicle supply equipment goals
It shall be the goal of the State to have, as practicable, level 3 EVSE charging ports
available to the public:
(1) within three driving miles of every exit of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System
of Interstate and Defense Highways within the State;
(2) within 25 driving miles of another level 3 EVSE charging port available to the public
along a State highway, as defined in subdivision 1(20) of this title; and
(3) co-located with or within a safe and both walkable and rollable distance of publicly
accessible amenities such as restrooms, restaurants, and convenience stores to provide
a safe, consistent, and convenient experience for the traveling public along the State
highway system. (Added 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. July 1, 2024.)
§ 2907. Annual reporting; electric vehicle supply equipment
(a) Notwithstanding 2 V.S.A. § 20(d), the Agency of Transportation shall:
(1) file a report, with a map, on the State’s efforts to meet its federally required Electric
Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan, as updated, and the goals set forth in section
2906 of this chapter with the House and Senate Committees on Transportation not later
than January 15 each year until the Deployment Plan is met; and
(2) file a report on the current operability of EVSE available to the public and deployed
through the assistance of Agency funding with the House and Senate Committees on Transportation
not later than January 15 each year.
(b) The reports required under subsection (a) of this section can be combined when filing
with the House and Senate Committees on Transportation and shall prominently be posted
on the Agency of Transportation’s website. (Added 2023, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. July 1, 2024.)