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Drive Electric: buy or lease

Category

Transportation

Impact

Cost

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Why drive an Electric Car? EVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions, generally cost less to operate and maintain than gas vehicles, and offer a smoother driving experience.

Where can I read a quick overview about EVs?  Click on the AAA Resources page.

Want to lease?  DriveGreen (run by Green Energy Consumers Alliance) does offer negotiated discounts for EV purchases and leases through participating dealerships each month, but federal EV tax incentives for leased vehicles no longer exist (see below) and most savings now depend on dealer pricing and state rebates rather than federal tax credits.

Where can I buy an EV?  The answer to that is simple: you can purchase an EV from the same place you would buy a conventional vehicle. Do your research, find a brand that suits you, then visit your local dealerships for a test drive.

How can I compare EVs?   Click here to use the National Grid Electric Vehicle Hub EV Comparison Tool.  

What programs and financial incentives are there? 

Massachusetts Incentives

State rebates are available right now, including:

✔ MOR-EV Rebates for MA residents:

  • New EV (BEV or fuel cell): up to $3,500

  • Used EV: up to $3,500

  • Income-Qualified Adder: up to $1,500

  • Trade-in bonus: up to $1,000

  • Higher rebates for certain medium-duty EVs (Class 2b, trucks): up to $7,500

  • RideCleanMass rebates: incentives available for rideshare/taxi drivers.
    These rebates are active and larger than many other states’ programs.

✔ MassEVIP (Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program):

  • Incentives for public entity fleets to buy or lease EVs.

  • Provides funding depending on vehicle type (e.g., up to ~$7,500 per EV purchase).

  • Grants available for workplace and other charging station installations.

✔ Utility EV incentives (e.g., National Grid):

  • Off-peak charging programs and rebates for home EV charging installation (e.g., up to ~$700 for wiring upgrades).

  • Eligible residential customers can save on charging equipment and demand charges.

Federal Incentives (Updated)

⚠ EV Purchase Tax Credits Expired:

  • The federal tax credit on new EVs (up to $7,500) and on used EVs (up to $4,000) ended on September 30, 2025and is no longer available.

⚠ EV Lease Credit (federal) also expired when the tax credit sunset — so the federal lease “loophole” that let lessees benefit is no longer part of current federal tax law.

⚠ Federal Tax Credit for Residential EV Chargers:

  • A tax credit that paid 30% of cost (up to $1,000) for home charger equipment and installation also ends on June 30, 2026.

Business / commercial charger credits have related deadlines and may still exist but have conditions and may phase out sooner.

Where can I find more information?   Access EV Charging Information and DriveGreen.

Steps to Take

  1. Explore EV basics on AAA or other trusted EV education sites.

  2. Check National Grid and MOR-EV program details to understand current state rebates.

  3. Visit DriveGreen for insight on dealer offers, but don’t assume federal rebates will be available at the point of sale anymore.

  4. Use PlugStar to compare EV models.

  5. Plan for charging:

    • You can still use a standard 110-120 V outlet, but a professionally installed Level 2 (240 V) charger will charge much faster.

    • Rebates vary by utility and region.

  6. helps you decide which vehicle is right for you by having you answer a few questions. 1) how many miles you drive per day; 2) what type of long trips you make; and 3) how much passenger and cargo space you need?
  7.   Ensure you have convenient access to a standard 110-120V outlet to plug in your EV.  Or, install a Level II 240 Volt home charging infrastructure which speeds up charging time up to 6X faster with links to charging apps such as (ChargePoint, PlugShare, EVgo).

Once you know you want to go ahead

  1. Ready to walk into a dealership? Don’t assume these dealers will offer you the DriveGreen deals if there are any: you need to bring the deal to them.
  2. Test drive cars at the dealers. It’s free, no commitment!

Deep Dive

Why are electric vehicles more efficient than gasoline-fueled vehicles?

EVs are incredibly efficient: gasoline engines lose 64% to 75% of the energy provided whereas electric EV engines lose only 15% to 20%. That means they dramatically reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and your fuel costs. (Source: www.fueleconomy.gov)

EVs also have lower maintenance costs:  no oil changes, no transmission fluids, no fuel pumps, no timing belts, etc.

 

Range anxiety? Fully electric vehicles (EV) are constrained by their battery capacity, but the battery range improves by the year. For example, the new highly-rated Chevrolet Bolt has a range of 259 miles. The Tesla Model 3 has a range of 250-322 miles  depending on the option you choose and the network of charging stations keeps expanding, with many apps that help you locate public charging stations and if they are available in real time. 

There are over 2,550 Tesla Supercharger Stations with 27,777 Superchargers in North America. You can use Tesla Destination Charging locations, usually located conveniently at restaurants or roadside rest stops, to not only charge a Tesla but with some other EVs.

You can plug your car into any standard 110-120V outlet, but many EV and plug-in owners install a Level II 240 Volt charger, which speeds up charging time up to 6X faster. Equipment plus installation of these chargers cost in the range of $1,000 to $1,200. 

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