Colorado builds on federal incentives for electric vehicles, trucks, and home appliances

The Colorado legislature passed several bills this session that will help accelerate the adoption of cleaner and more efficient options for both transportation and our built environment. These policies complement federal incentives offered through the Inflation Reduction Act and American Recovery Act to incentivize consumers to purchase new electric vehicles and home appliances. 

Governor Jared Polis signed HB23-1272, Tax Policy That Advances Decarbonization, at a local bicycle store this evening. This significant bill helps encourage electrification by increasing and extending the state EV tax credit, increasing the state tax credit for electric medium and heavy-duty trucks, establishing a new statewide point-of-sale incentive for e-bikes, and expanding tax credits for in-home heat pumps. Read more about each policy below:

• Electric vehicles: The bill increases the state EV tax credit from its current $2,000 up to $5,000 starting July 1, 2023, with an additional $2,500 tax credit available for vehicles with a suggested MSRP of $35,000 or less. Vehicles with an MSRP of $80,000 or less qualify. The credit steps down annually through 2029.   Colorado residents can stack these credits with federal EV tax credits for maximum savings, and additional incentives may be available though utility programs such as the Xcel low-income EV rebate or the Vehicle Exchange Colorado program.

• Electric trucks: The bill increases the state tax credit to $12,000 for medium and heavy-duty (MHDV) electric trucks through 2032 which will help fleets in Colorado comply with the recently adopted Advanced Clean Truck and Low NOX rules. These tax credits can be layered with federal tax credit for maximum savings up to $40,000 per truck.

• Electric Bikes: The bill establishes a new statewide incentive of $450 for e-bikes beginning April 2024. The credit is taken at point-of-sale, meaning the consumer experiences it as a direct discount when paying for the bike. This statewide incentive builds off popular programs like Denver’s wildly popular e-bike rebate and Can-Do Colorado, a program for essential workers.

• Heat Pumps: The bill increases and extends the state tax credit for installing energy-efficient home heating, cooling and hot water systems beginning in 2024 to help lower costs and reduce pollution inside homes. The tax credit for an in-home heat pump (which is a more efficient, electric home heating and cooling appliance) is $1,500  and increases to $3,000 for a ground-source model. Heat pump water heaters are eligible for a $500 credit and credits can be combined with federal incentives and utility incentives. 

• Other decarbonization policies: Additional state tax credits are offered for industrial efficiency and the production of sustainable aviation fuel.

Additionally, the legislature passed HB22-1233, EV Parking and Charging Requirements which requires the state electric board adopt rules facilitating EV charging at multifamily buildings beginning March 1, 2024. Specifically, the state electric board must adopt rules requiring compliance with model electric read and solar ready code that require multifamily buildings to comply with the EV power transfer infrastructure requirements.

The bill also protects EV parking and charging by preventing local governments, HOAs, and other entities from restricting or forbidding the parking and charging of EVs or installation of EV charging stations. Lastly, the bill requires local govs to count EV parking spaces count towards parking minimums  and exempts EV chargers from business personal property tax. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk