House Bill 348 would make significant changes to Delaware’s electric vehicle rebate program by giving the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) greater authority over how rebates are distributed and who qualifies to receive them.
Under current law, all-electric vehicles are eligible for rebates of up to $2,500, while plug-in hybrid vehicles can receive up to $1,000. Eligible vehicles must have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $50,000 or less, and Delaware residents are limited to receiving two rebates during the life of the program.
If approved, the legislation would remove those rebate caps and eliminate the $50,000 vehicle price limit currently written into state law. It would also allow DNREC to determine rebate amounts based on factors such as household income, vehicle type, vehicle cost, and market conditions.
The bill is sponsored by Representatives Sophie Phillips and Debra Heffernan and Senator Stephanie Hansen, with co-sponsors Representatives Larry Lambert, Eric Morrison, Alonna Berry, Claire Snyder-Hall, Mara Gorman, and Senator Ray Seigfried.
Additional changes would allow DNREC to establish enhanced rebates for lower-income households and expand eligibility to businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government entities operating within Delaware. The legislation would also give the agency broader discretion to establish program criteria and determine which vehicles qualify for incentives.
According to the bill synopsis, the proposal is intended to update Delaware’s electric vehicle rebate program following changes in federal incentives and market conditions while allowing the state to create targeted incentives, including additional assistance for lower-income households.
