Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Exemption from Vehicle Testing Requirements

Electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and HEVs are exempt from state motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. For more information, see the Idaho Vehicle Inspection Program website.

(Reference Idaho Statutes 39-116B)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Regulation Exemption

Individuals, corporations, or other legal entities that sell electricity for the purpose of charging EVs are not under the jurisdiction of the Idaho Public Utility Commission.

(Reference Idaho Statutes 61-119)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Fee

In addition to standard registration fees, all-electric vehicle owners must pay an annual fee of $140 and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle owners must pay an annual fee of $75. Neighborhood electric vehicles are exempt from the fee.

(Reference Idaho Statutes 49-457 )

Regional Electric Vehicle (REV) West Plan

Idaho joined Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming (Signatory States) in signing the REV West memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create an Intermountain West Electric Vehicle (EV) Corridor that will make it possible to seamlessly drive an EV across the Signatory States’ major transportation corridors.

In 2019, the Signatory States signed a revised REV West MOU to update their EV corridor goals based on progress to date. Signatory States are committed to:

• Educate consumers and fleet owners to raise EV awareness, reduce range anxiety, and increase EV adoption;
• Coordinate on EV charging station locations to achieve a consistent user experience across Signatory States;
• Use and promote the REV West Voluntary Minimum Standards for EV charging stations and explore opportunities for implementing the standards in Signatory States;
• Identify and develop opportunities to incorporate EV charging stations into planning and development processes such as building codes, metering policies, and renewable energy generation projects;
• Encourage EV manufacturers to stock and market a wide variety of EVs within the Signatory States;
• Identify, respond to, and collaborate on funding opportunities to support the development of the plan; and
• Support the build-out of direct current (DC) fast charging stations along EV corridors through investments, partnerships, and other mechanisms.

The Signatory States maintain a coordination group composed of senior leadership from each state who meet on a quarterly basis and report on the above actions. For more information, see the REV West website.

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Replacement Rebates

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) offers rebates for the replacement of qualified medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles with new diesel or alternative fuel vehicles. Rebates are available for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school, shuttle, and transit buses, freight switchers, airport ground support equipment, forklifts, and port cargo handling equipment. Vehicles must meet model year requirements, which vary by vehicle type. Funding amounts are based on vehicle type, fuel type (e.g., diesel, alternative fuel, all-electric), and applicant type (e.g., government, non-government). Funding is competitively awarded, and special consideration is given for projects located in air quality priority areas, areas with higher impact on sensitive populations, and oxides of nitrogen priority counties. The program is funded by Idaho’s portion of the Volkswagen (VW) Environmental Mitigation Trust and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. For more information, including program guidance and the application, see the IDEQ VW Settlement website.

Commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Incentive - Idaho Power

Idaho Power offers business customers funding for the installation of Level 2 EV charging stations for passenger EVs. Eligible customers may receive funding for 50% of project costs, up to $7,500 per site and $15,000 per applicant.

Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit the Idaho Power EV Charging Station Incentive Offering website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Support

Idaho utilities joined the National Electric Highway Coalition (NEHC), committing to create a network of direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations connecting major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific of the United States. NEHC utility members agree to ensure efficient and effective fast charging deployment plans that enable long distance EV travel, avoiding duplication among coalition utilities, and complement existing corridor DCFC sites. For more information, including a list of participating utilities and states, see the NEHC website.

Idaho's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NEVI Formula Program requires the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Plan) to the DOT and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Office by August 1, 2022, describing how the state intends to distribute NEVI funds. Plans must be established according to NEVI guidance.

For more information about Idaho’s NEVI planning process, see the ITD NEVI Planning website. For more information about Idaho’s NEVI plan, see the Joint Office’s State Plans for EV Charging website.