Guide to Electric Vehicles in Massachusetts

Discover the rich history of this northeastern state the green way. Whether you’re in the area to appreciate the natural beauty of the region, catch a game of the Red Sox, or consider yourself a lifelong Massachusettsan – knowing the ins and outs of electric car ownership in Massachusetts is bound to come in handy.

From understanding the state incentives to going green with Massachusetts electric car rebates to locating the plethora of
charging spots around the state, this guide from Hertz will talk you through everything you need to know about electric vehicles in the state.

• How many EVs are there in Massachusetts?
• Are there incentives for electric cars in Massachusetts?
• EV registration, licensing, and fees in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts EV charging network

How Many EVs Are There in Massachusetts?

As of January 2023, Massachusetts had almost 69,000 zero-emission vehicles and 153,000 hybrid passenger cars registered. But there is still work to become more environmentally-friendly that needs to be done – the state also had 4.6 million fossil fuel vehicles registered. The historic Massachusetts town of Lexington had the highest proportion of clean vehicles – with 14.2% of all registered vehicles being electric.

In 2021, the state experienced a 45.03% year-over-year growth of EV sales from 2020. Massachusetts made up 2.09% of the total US registered EVs. It has an ambitious target of at least 200,000 EVs on the road by 2025 and 900,000 in use by 2030.

Massachusetts has adopted the Zero Emission Vehicle program (ZEV). Established in 2015, the ZEV commission worked with the Massachusetts legislature to pass Chapter 48 (approved in 2017) – an act to help with zero emission vehicle adoption.

Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Massachusetts?

Recent electric car news in Massachusetts reports that the state is fourth in the country for EV policies and it scored highly for overall transport emission reduction and grid decarbonization goals.

 A large number of Massachusetts drivers have already made the switch to green, with over 27,000 Massachusetts electric car rebates claimed by March 2023.

MOR-EV Program 

The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) initiative provides rebates of up to $3,500 to buy or lease a battery, or fuel cell, electric vehicle. Or up to $1,500 in the case of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Please note that rebates for eligible PHEVs are being passed out of the MOR-EV program. PHEVs purchased or leased before or on June 30th 2023 have 90 days from the purchase date to apply for a $1,500 rebate.

More information is to be released regarding the expansion of MOR-EV programs in Summer 2023.

United States Department of Energy Federal Incentive Program

You may be eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credit if you buy a new electric vehicle in or after 2023. Pre-owned electric vehicles may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $4,000.

If you purchased your EV between 2010 and 2022, you may still be able to claim this tax credit. The amount you receive will depend on the vehicle's battery capacity.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP)

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) offers various Massachusetts electric vehicle incentives. These include:

• MassEVIP Direct Current Fast Charging – an open grant program to provide property owners with publicly accessible parking or education campuses EV fast charging stations.
• MassEVIP Multi-Unit Dwelling & Educational Campus Charging – to help owners of these types of properties obtain EV charging stations.
• MassEVIP Public Access Charging – to help people with publicly accessible parking obtain EV chargers.
• MassEVIP Workplace and Fleet Charging – offers incentives to employers and fleet operators to install EV chargers.

EV Registration, Licensing, and Fees in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not currently charge additional annual fees for plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles.

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) registration fee for electric vehicles is $60. This needs to be reviewed bi-annually and costs $60 to do so.

Another thing to consider when it comes to electric car ownership in Massachusetts is insurance. Electric cars can sometimes be more expensive to insure than traditional gas or diesel engines. This is due to electric car parts being newer, so replacement parts may not be as readily available. The purchase price of electric cars is also often higher, which is reflected in their insurance.

Massachusetts EV Charging Network

Massachusetts is a great place to go green thanks to the extensive electric car charging network. There are almost 5,000 electric car charging stations in Massachusetts. With helpful apps like ChargeHub and PlugShare, it’s easy to know where to charge your electric car.

There are three main types of charging stations available in Massachusetts, varying in cost and speed. These are:

• Level 1 – these 120 V charging stations make up a very small percentage of the overall ports in the state. These are often free but can take
  much longer than other charging stations. Level 1 chargers could cost you between $1.40 and $14 to charge your EV.
• Level 2 – these 240 V charging stations account for 90% of the stations in Massachusetts and are five times faster than Level 1 stations. Level 2 chargers could cost you between $8 to $40 to charge your EV.
• Level 3 – these 480 V charging stations can fill your EV Battery from empty to full in just 30 minutes. It could cost you between $10 to $30 for a full charge with a Level 3 charger.

Massachusetts is continuing to improve its charging infrastructure. The Department of Public Utilities approved EV programs for electric companies Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil in December 2022. These were:

• A budget of $188 million for a four-year Phase II EV program with Eversource.
• A budget of $206 million for a four-year Phase III EV program with National Grid.
• A budget of $998,000 for a five-year Phase I EV program with Unitil. 

Each of these companies also offer rebates for Level 2 and direct current fast-charging EV chargers for certain customers.

Time to drive

Massachusetts is a great state to go green in. From generous electric car tax credits and government rebates to the abundance of electric car charging stations in Massachusetts, there’s plenty of support in place to make the switch.

Why not give electric a try? Rent an electric vehicle from Hertz and enjoy The Bay State the greener way.