Guide to Electric Vehicles in Louisiana

The beauty of the Bayou State makes Louisiana perfect road trip country.
Yet EV enthusiasts may wonder if the electric revolution has reached that far
south. In our guide to electric vehicles in Louisiana, we’ll give you the important numbers and details you need to know, from fees and incentives to charging costs and perks.

• How Many EVs Are There in Louisiana?
• Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Louisiana?
• EV registration, licensing, and fees in Louisiana
• Louisiana EV charging network

How Many EVs Are There in Louisiana?

According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are 5,880 EVs in Louisiana. The figure, tallied by the US Department of Energy, pales in comparison to the estimated 2.4 million EVs on the road in the USA. And, although Louisiana’s EVs represent just 0.24% of America’s total EV market, these stats don’t tell the whole story.

Since 2021, Louisiana’s EV numbers have jumped by 83.75%, with electric vehicle registrations increasing by 60% in 2020. So, EV sales are rising - but just how popular are EVs in Louisiana? The hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric numbers hold some clues.

There are 34,300 hybrid electric vehicles on Louisiana’s roads and highways, EVs - and their hybrid cousins - are starting to make a dent in the state’s 3.79 million car population. But despite the increasing EV trend, Louisiana has yet to join the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program. As part of the program, EV manufacturers are rewarded for increasing EV sales, which could be the key to increasing electric car ownership in Louisiana.

In the meantime, Louisiana has received $73 million from the Department of Transportation and Development to improve the EV charging infrastructure over the next five years.

Let’s look at how incentives could make electric car use in Louisiana more appealing.

Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Louisiana?

No, there are no state-level incentives in Louisiana when you buy an EV. But, there are perks and incentives to be found. These include federal tax credits, rebates on home charging station purchases, plus free parking and charging stations in cities across Louisiana.

Let’s dig a little deeper:

• Federal Tax Credits for EVs

If electric car prices in Louisiana are just out of reach, it pays to know that you could claim a credit of between $2,500 and $7,500. Credits apply to new, and some used, EVs and the claim form is fairly simple to complete. To check if you qualify for the Federal Electric Car Tax Credit - and to read more details on the claim process, read our guide on how EV tax credit works.

• Home Charging Station Rebates
  

In Louisiana, Entergy and SWEPCO customers can receive a $250 rebate on a Level 2 EV charging station installation. It’s worth noting that the rebates have a limit, and the offer only stands while the funding lasts. Not a SWEPCO or Entergy customer? You could still receive a 30% federal tax credit against the cost of installing an EV charger at home.

• Free charging and parking
  

With just over 200 public charging stations, Louisiana’s minimal charging network might be small, but there are free charging - and parking, places to seek out. Planning a road trip? The ample free EV charging locations in Louisiana will keep you driving to your next destination.

EV Registration, Licensing, and Fees in Louisiana

Owning an electric car in Louisiana comes with a few costs. You may have boosted your eco-credentials and received a tax rebate, but there are Louisiana’s registration fees and insurance implications to consider.

We’ll walk you through the state’s take on fees, tax and insurance.

• Registration fees

Governor John Bel Edwards signed an electric car law in Louisiana that imposes a $110 road-use fee for EV users. The annual fee supplements the state’s shortfall from the 20-cent-per-gallon fuel tax other road users pay when driving gas-powered cars. A small price to pay for going green, perhaps. Owners of hybrid vehicles pay a $60 road-use fee. The fees represent what the average road user would pay in fuel tax over a year.

• State Sales Tax

All new or used EV sales in Louisiana are subject to a 4% state sales tax. This tax applies to all cars sold in Louisiana - whether they run on electric, gas or other fuels. There are no tax exemptions in Louisiana and - just like buying any other car - your new EV comes with additional taxes and fees to pay. These include title fees, plate transfer fees and registration fees.

• Insurance

You’ve picked out an EV, paid your sales tax and registration fees and now it’s time to insure it. In Louisiana, there are no specific laws surrounding EV insurance. But there are state-specific rules that apply to all road users. As an at-fault state, Louisiana drivers must purchase liability coverage for any EVs they own.  This has to include bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage.

Across the USA, drivers are also finding that electric vehicles can be more expensive to insure than gas-powered cars. This comes down to higher ticket prices, higher repair costs and potentially having to write off the EV in the event of a crash.

Louisiana EV Charging Network

As well as charging your EV at home, electric car charging stations across Louisiana provide places to recharge your car. With just over 200 charging stations, Louisiana falls well behind the national average, but as we’ve mentioned above, the $73 million-dollar-spend on EV infrastructure is set to change all that.

So what will it cost you to charge your EV in Louisiana? Expect to pay around $0.14 per KWH if you’re charging at home and $0.40 per KWH at a public charging point. The cost for a full charge depends on the make and model of the car, but costs come in at around $9 for a full charge at home and $26 at a public charging point.

The future is bright

Louisiana’s EV incentives and infrastructure may lag behind other states, but that hasn’t stopped drivers from buying an EV. Sales are up – and the state’s five-year plan to add more charging stations will make life much easier for EV owners. If Louisiana adds incentives, expect to see many more EVs on the state’s roads.

Plan your trip to the Creole State today and take in the magnificence of land that a wondrous array of fauna and flora call home. Drive around to catch a glimpse of extraordinary animals and incredible swamplands. See the extraordinary in an EV with Hertz.