Air

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program

Effective April 22, 2013 the following rebate levels apply to the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program:

Program effective for purchases or leases made on or after April 22, 2013
Vehicles eligible for rebate	New vehicle purchase or lease
Electric Vehicle Rebate	$2,500
Electric Motorcycles	$500
Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Rebate	$1,500
Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV)	$250
Hybrid Vehicles are no longer eligible for this program.

All purchases or leases for which a rebate is sought are subject to the terms and conditions of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program effective April 22, 2013; regardless of application submittal date. All other requirements apply.

Rebate applications shall be completed and submitted to the
City of Riverside Citywide AFV Rebate Program Representative
within 30 days of vehicle purchase*.

*Other requirements apply. For more information, please contact an AFV Program Representative at (951) 351-6140.

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program is designed to encourage the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles and to increase awareness of the benefits associated with driving a clean and green vehicle.

Energy efficient cars create significant environmental benefits by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases and smog-forming compounds in the air. The City of Riverside is committed to improving local and regional air quality.

Even in the best of economic times, the cost of purchasing a new vehicle can make a strong dent in the family budget; a little relief in the cost of a new vehicle is always welcome. Knowing this, the City of Riverside Public Works Department is pleased to offer the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the program work?
• Who qualifies for the rebate?
• Which vehicles qualify for the rebate?
• How does one receive a rebate?
• Important things to know
• How is the program funded?
• How does one get more information?

How Does the Program Work

The program provides a rebate to City of Riverside residents who purchase or lease a qualified new alternative fuel or electric vehicle and meet the applicability requirements. All vehicles must have the original manufacturer's alternative fuel equipment (vehicles with conversions will not qualify).

Rebates under this program are as follows:

• New Electric Vehicle Rebate: $2,500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new qualified electric vehicle. Electric vehicles include those powered exclusively by batteries or hybrid technologies which allow the vehicle to be plugged in for recharge.
• New Electric Motorcycle Rebate: $500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new qualified Electric Motorcycle.
  
• New CNG Vehicle Rebate: $1,500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new qualified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle.
• New Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Rebate:  $250 rebate for the purchase or lease of a new qualified Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.

Return to Top

Who Qualifies for the Rebate?

The applicant and recipient shall be a resident of the City of Riverside and be able to provide proof of residency at the time of rebate application submittal. A current utility bill or other acceptable proof of residency and a valid California driver's license shall be presented at the time of application submittal.

Potential applicants are highly encouraged to contact the City prior to vehicle purchase to confirm their residence is within the City of Riverside.

Other limitations apply.

Return to Top

Which vehicles qualify for the rebate?

To be eligible for a rebate, a City resident must purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle from a Riverside auto dealership which meets the following criteria:

• Fueled exclusively with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG); or
• Be a battery or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle:
  • Battery electric vehicles run entirely on electricity stored in batteries and have an
    electric motor rather than a gasoline engine
  • Plug-in hybrids are similar to traditional hybrids but are also equipped with a larger,
    more advanced battery that allows the vehicle to be plugged in and recharged in
    addition to refueling with gasoline.
• Be a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) that meets all of the following
  requirements:
  • Has four wheels.
  • Can attain a speed, in one mile, of more than 20 miles per hour and not more
    than 25 miles per hour, on a paved level surface.
  • Has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds.
  • Eligible NEVs are limited to those intended for on-road use only.
• Be a battery electric motorcycle.

Examples of some of the vehicles that meet the program eligibility requirements:

Model Year 2012/13 Eligible Electric Vehicles; Motorcycles; and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles*
2012 Models		2013 Models
Battery Electric	Plug-in Hybrid	Battery Electric	Plug-in Hybrid	Neighborhood Electric
Ford Transit Connect Ford Focus Mitsubishi MiEV Nissan Leaf Toyota RAV 4 EV	Chevrolet Volt Toyota Prius Plug-in	Fiat 500e Ford Focus Electric Honda FIT EV Mitsubishi MiEV Nissan Leaf Smart FORTWO Toyota Scion iQ EV EcoCentre EcoCycle	Chevrolet Volt Ford C-MAX ENERGI Ford Fusion ENERGI Honda Accord EV Toyota Prius Plug-in	EcoCentre Eco-E EcoCentre EcoTruck EcoCentre EcoVan
*Other vehicles may qualify.

Other vehicles not listed may qualify. Applicants are responsible for ensuring vehicle eligibility prior to purchase.

Return to Top

How does one receive a rebate?

A rebate application shall be completed and submitted in person to the City of Riverside Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program representative within 30 days of vehicle purchase. Application forms will only be provided in person and must be completed upon receipt at the following location:

• City of Riverside
• Regional Water Quality Control Plant
• 5950 Acorn Street
• Riverside, CA 92504

Return to Top

Important things to know

• Rebates are subject to fund availability and may be cancelled at any time.
• Rebates are paid on a first come, first served basis.
• Rebates will remain available through June 30, 2014, subject to fund availability.
• Government organizations and businesses are excluded from this program.
• Rebates are limited to one (1) rebate per Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
• Rebates are limited to one (1) rebate per household, per three (3) year period, as documented by the physical address of the household.
• Rebates are limited to one (1) rebate per person, per three (3) year period, as documented by the individuals driver's license number.
• City employees who live in the City of Riverside cannot obtain a double rebate for the same vehicle by meeting the eligibility requirements for both resident and employee programs.
• City employees who live in the City of Riverside cannot use both the resident and employee programs to circumvent the one (1) rebate per household, per three (3) year period limitation.
• Rebate application shall be completed and submitted to the City of Riverside AFV Rebate Program representative within 30 days of vehicle purchase.
• Applicants are responsible for ensuring vehicle eligibility.
• The City reserves the right to modify or discontinue the AFV program without prior notice at its discretion.

Return to Top

How is the program funded?

In 1990, California Assembly Bill 2766 was signed into law and the funding program described therein has since been known as the "AB 2766 program."

AB 2766 provides for the collection of an additional $4 in motor vehicle registration fees to fund various air pollution efforts (from www.aqmd.gov).

A portion of the funds collected are distributed to cities and counties, based on their percentage of population, to be used to reduce motor vehicle air pollution.

Did You Know? The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program is one of many exciting programs the City of Riverside has implemented using AB 2766 funds.

Return to Top

More Information

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program is administered by the Public Works Department. To discover the savings and learn more about the program, contact the City of Riverside at (951) 826-5311.

Return to Top