The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles Program (MOR-EV Program) has increased electric vehicle rebates from $2,500 to $3,500 for battery electric vehicles. This is the first of several changes to the state rebate program that will help make the car buying/leasing process more manageable for Massachusetts residents. 

Why is MOR-EV Changing? 

This summer, Massachusetts passed a new climate law that, among very many other things, called for lots of changes to the state rebate. In October, we published this blogpost outlining those changes. At the time of that blogpost, we were calling on the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to start implementing these changes with the funding allocated to MOR-EV in the state budget passed earlier this year. DOER, however, felt it couldn’t act until it got explicit new funding, which was held up in the economic development bill. When Governor Baker signed that bill into law on November 10, DOER started the ball rolling, and on November 17th, they announced these changes. 

What Does MOR-EV Look Like Now? 

Your battery-electric car is eligible for the $3,500 rebate if you applied for the rebate on or after November 10, 2022.  

This is fantastic news! If you’re looking to apply for the MOR-EV rebate, here are some additional things you need to know: 

• Both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are eligible for the $3,500 rebate. 
• The rebate is eligible for purchased and leased vehicles. Leased vehicles have to be leased for at least 36 months to qualify.  
• There is a $1,500 rebate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), but there is an additional requirement of an all-electric range of 25 miles or greater.  

• You must apply for the rebate on the MOR-EV website within 90 days of purchase or lease. 
• The vehicle’s final sales price for plug-in hybrids must be under $50,000 and must be under $55,000 for battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles to qualify. 

In addition to upping the rebate for battery-electric vehicles, DOER removed the limit for how many MOR-EV rebates a fleet can apply for. 

MA residents checking out a Chevrolet Bolt.

What Else Is Coming? 

The climate bill passed this summer called for lots of changes to the MOR-EV rebate that have not yet been implemented – notably increasing the sales price cap to $55,000, extending the rebate to used EVs, making it available point of sale, and offering a higher rebate for low- and moderate-income drivers or people trading in gas-powered cars. DOER in its press release noted that more changes will be announced in spring 2023. We will be sure to post here as more information becomes available – and keep up the pressure on DOER to implement these changes as swiftly as possible. 

In the Meantime... 

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