Guide to Electric Vehicles in Alaska

We’re going to delve into the world of EVs in The Last Frontier. Find out everything you need to know about driving green here – from electric car charging stations in Alaska to rebates, registrations, licensing, and more. We’ll also look at how many Alaskans have electric vehicles, as well as the current infrastructure in place so you know exactly what to expect when driving your Hertz EV rental here.

Jump straight to a section.

• How Many EVs Are There in Alaska?
• Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Alaska?
• EV Registration, Licensing, and Fees in Alaska
• Alaska EV Charging Network
• Frontier Time

How Many EVs Are There in Alaska?

Not many. Electric car ownership in Alaska is tiny compared to the likes of New York and California. There are merely 1,290 full EVs in a state with a population of just over 700,000. This amounts to only 0.12% of all cars registered, making up 0.09% of all US cars.

Although it’s been a slow start, uptake of their use is increasing year-on-year. It grew by 37.23% between 2020-2021. And although it’s not a part of the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program, there are a few other incentives in place to entice the adoption of their use.

• Total number of EV registrations – 1,290 (EV), 1,000 (plug-in hybrids)
• Percent of total vehicle registrations in the state – 0.12%
• Percent of total US EV registrations – 0.09%
• YOY growth of ownership in recent years – +37.23% from 2020-2021
• Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program – not currently included in this.

What incentives are in place to lure car buyers to jump on the carbon-free motoring bandwagon? Let’s have a look at what you can expect to get from ownership of an electric car in Alaska.

Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Alaska?

Yes. In terms of electric car incentives in Alaska, there are a few things to take note of. You can get up to a $1,000 rebate from Alaska Power and Telephone for owning an EV here. This is not automatic, and there is an application process.

On top of this, you can get a $200 bill credit from the CEA for providing evidence of Level 2 EV charging station ownership. This can even increase to $400 depending on the circumstances.

Alaska Electric Light & Power also offers a time of use rate to those charging their EVs with a 16-kW battery or more. And although there’s just a handful of them throughout the state, there’s free parking.

• Tax credits/rebates – Potential $1,000 rebate for Alaska Power and Telephone customers.
• Rebates or offers on home charging station purchase/installation - $200 to $400
• Charging rate discounts – Time of use rate given by Alaska Electric Light & Power to drivers with an EV that has at least a 16-kW battery.
• Driving perks, e.g., free parking/charging – Free parking is available at three of these stations throughout the entire state.

It’s clear that the Final Frontier State has a long way to go in terms of incentives and tax credits to boost its fleet to the emission-free kind.

EV Registration, Licensing, and Fees in Alaska

The costs of electric car ownership in Alaska are reasonable. On top of the standard registration, you pay for any car, there are no extra costs. This is unlike other states, such as Florida, which charge extra for electric vehicles. There are no extra annual fees. The insurance is cheap too costing $300-$500 yearly, this is much lower than some other states.

Snapshot of costs:

• Registration fees - $100
• Annual fees for a Plug-in and Electric Vehicle Decal – No extra annual fees
• Yearly car insurance considerations - $300-$500 yearly

Alaska EV charging network

The electric car charging stations in the Alaska network have only 119 charging spots scattered throughout the state. This is much less than Colorado (1,689) and Connecticut (533) for example. The monthly cost is around $140 if you want to charge to almost 600 kWh. This is much cheaper than regular gasoline – higher here than in lots of other states.

The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) is keen to hike the number of electric vehicle charging stations up to give people more choice in terms of where they can juice up their eco-friendly rides. You can even get anywhere from $200 to $400 from the CEA as an encouragement to get one for yourself. Learn more about the different ways to charge your EV.

A close look at the numbers:

• Total number of charging stations in this state - 119
• Typical costs of use - monthly cost of 590 kWh per household totaling around $140.95
• Plans to invest/expand the charging network – The Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) looks to grow the number of chargers available throughout the state.
• Any state-specific support on home charging - $200-$400 CEA incentive.

Choose from our selection of EVs, we’ve got the latest range of Teslas for you to drive. Take the Model 3 for a spin, cruise the Alaska highways in the mid-size SUV - The Model Y, or venture to the state’s wilderness in the Polestar 2.

Frontier Time

There we have it – we’re almost at the end of our electric Alaskan journey. The figures for EV uptake are low here, more than what it was initially – but lots of growth is required to match other states. The good thing is there are a few generous incentives you can take advantage of. Why not make the most of these.

With rising gas prices worldwide, not only are you paying less to run an EV, but you’re also helping the environment. Less emissions, less C02 – better ozone layer. Not to mention, they are much quieter to use. Expect big things from Alaska soon, with plans to develop the infrastructure. More chargers, more access.

You may be going on a trip there for vacation, maybe for business. Perhaps you’re looking to buy one but want to take it for a slightly longer test spin. Renting one from us means you’ll experience the magic of the electric vehicle for yourself. Isn’t it about time you joined the EV revolution?

Let's Go!

EV adoption in Alaska resembles much of its lanscape - bare. But with things like the $1,000 rebate from Alaska Power and Telephone, $200-$400 bill credit from the CEA, cheap insurance, and more juice up stations arriving soon, expect all that to change. 

Why not try one for yourself with Hertz?