Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Emissions Inspection Exemption

AFVs are exempt from Nevada's emissions testing requirements. A new HEV is exempt from emissions inspection testing for the first five model years, after which the vehicle must comply with emissions inspection testing requirements on an annual basis. For more information, see the Nevada Emissions Control Program website. (Reference Nevada Revised Statutes 445B.770 and 445B.825)

Funds for School District Alternative Fuel Use

A portion of any penalty assessed for violations of air pollution control laws must be deposited in the county school district fund where the violation occurred. The local air pollution control board must approve expenditures from the fund, which are limited to education programs on topics relating to air quality and projects to improve air quality, including the purchase and installation of equipment to retrofit district school buses to operate on biodiesel, compressed natural gas, or a similar fuel that reduces emissions. (Reference Nevada Revised Statutes 445B.500)

Authorization for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Exemption

The Nevada Department of Transportation, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, may establish a program allowing federally certified alternative fuel vehicles to operate in HOV lanes regardless of the number of passengers. (Reference Nevada Revised Statutes 484A.463)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Time-Of-Use (TOU) - Nevada Energy (NV Energy)

NV Energy offers a TOU rate to residential and commercial customers who own or lease EVs. For more information, see the NV Energy Electric Vehicles website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Demonstration Program Requirements

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program (Program) requires Nevada utilities to promote and incentivize the deployment of EV charging stations. Utility customers may include public schools that install EV charging stations on-site or purchase electric school buses. Incentives may cover up to 75% of the installation or purchase cost.

Utilities may request to recover the costs associated with carrying out the Program, including customer incentives, by filing an application with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.

(Reference Nevada Revised Statutes 701B.670 and 704.110)

Regional Electric Vehicle (REV) West Plan

Nevada joined Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 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 fast charging (DCFC) 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.

Commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rebates - Nevada Energy (NV Energy)

NV Energy offers rebates to eligible business customers for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EV charging stations and direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations. Level 2 EV charging station rebates are available in the following amounts:

Low-income MUD is defined as property that qualifies for the Federal Low Income Housing Tax credit.

For more information, see the NV Energy Electric Vehicles website.

Idle Reduction Technology, Natural Gas Vehicle, and Plug-in Electric Vehicle Weight Exemption

Any motor vehicle equipped with an auxiliary power unit or other qualified idle reduction technology may exceed the maximum gross vehicle weight limit by up to 550 pounds (lbs.) to compensate for the additional weight of the idle reduction technology. Natural gas vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles may exceed the maximum gross vehicle weight limit for comparable conventional fuel vehicles by up to 2,000 lbs. (Reference Nevada Revised Statutes 484D.635)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking Space Regulation

An individual may not park a motor vehicle within any parking space specifically designated for charging EVs. To use the parking space, EVs must be actively charging. Violators may receive a fine of up to $750. (Reference Nevada Revised Statutes 484B.468)

Transportation Electrification Investment Authorization

Utilities must file a plan to accelerate transportation electrification in Nevada with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by September 1, 2021. Two or more utilities that share common ownership or transmission systems must include a plan to allocate up to $100,000,000 on transportation electrification. Plans must be designed to accelerate transportation electrification between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024. All plans must include:

• An Interstate Corridor Charging Depot Program to increase the availability of public charging infrastructure along state highways and support tourism;
• An Urban Charging Depot Program to help customers that are unable to charge vehicles at home or work;
• A Public Agency Electric Vehicle Charging Program to serve the public, workplace, and government fleet charging needs;
• A Transit, School Bus, and Transportation Electrification Custom Program to serve the needs of transit agencies, public schools, planning organizations, and commercial entities; and,
• An Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Program to support tourism and outdoor recreation entities.

Nevada Power Company, Nevada Energy (NV Energy), and Sierra Pacific Power Company submitted a joint plan to the PUC in 2021. For more information, see the NV Energy Economic Recovery Transportation Electrification Plan website. (Reference Senate Bill 448, 2021, and PUC Docket No. 21-09004)

Public Utility Definition

A person who owns, controls, operates, or manages a facility that supplies electricity to charge electric vehicles is not defined as a public utility. (Reference Nevada Code 704.021)

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Sales Requirements and Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards

Nevada adopted the California motor vehicle emissions and compliance requirements specified in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations. Manufacturers must meet the greenhouse gas emissions standard and the ZEV production and sales requirements, beginning with model year 2025. These regulations apply to all passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles. For more information, see the Clean Cars Nevada website. (Reference Nevada Administrative Code 445B.2 through 4445B.36 and Nevada Administrative Regulation R093-20)

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Support

Nevada 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.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate - Nevada Energy (NV Energy)

NV Energy offers low-income customers a $2,500 rebate for the purchase of a new or used EV. Eligible low-income customers are households with income levels equal to or below 200% of the federal poverty line. Rebates are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, see the NV Energy Electric Vehicles website.

Residential Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rebate - Nevada Energy (NV Energy)

NV Energy offers residential customers a rebate of up to $500 for the purchase of a Level 2 EV charging station. Rebates are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, see the NV Energy Electric Vehicles website.

Nevada's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NEVI Formula Program requires the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) 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 Nevada’s NEVI planning process, see the NDOT Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Plan website. For more information about Nevada’s NEVI plan, see the Joint Office’s State Plans for EV Charging website.