HB 198 Summary

• Establishes a low- to moderate-income electric vehicle rebate program administered by the Department of Transportation to incentivize purchase or lease of qualifying electric vehicles by eligible households and nonprofit organizations.

• Eligible applicants include Hawaii residents in low- to moderate-income households (earning up to 140% of area median income) and Hawaii-based nonprofits providing health, dental, social, financial, or energy conservation services; applicants must register the vehicle in Hawaii and retain registration for at least 24 consecutive months.

• Qualifying electric vehicles must be purchased or leased after July 1, 2023, from a vehicle dealer, have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of no more than $75,000, include at least 24 months of manufacturer warranty coverage on drivetrain and battery, and comply with federal safety standards.

• Rebate amount equals either a percentage of purchase/lease cost or a fixed dollar amount (specific percentages and amounts left blank in bill text), with annual caps on individual rebates and total program spending; applications must be submitted within six months of purchase or lease.

• Establishes an electric vehicle subaccount within the highway development special fund to hold appropriated moneys; Department of Transportation may contract with a third-party administrator, limited to 10% of appropriated funds for administration, and may offer expanded financing mechanisms for eligible applicants.