Guide to Electric Vehicles in Arizona

As you venture into the heart of the American Southwest, the mesmerizing landscapes of Arizona are best experienced on the open road. Driving through the state in an EV makes it even more enjoyable as you take in the unique wonders of the Grand Canyon, the Sedona rock, sprawling deserts, and ancient sites. But before you go, be sure to brush up on the essentials around driving an EV in Arizona, where to charge it, and if there are any fees or discounts you should know about. In this article, we’ll reveal all.

Navigate to a section:

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

How Many EVs Are There in Arizona?

Arizona is one of the USA’s leading states when it comes to EV uptake. As of 2021, 28,770 EVs were registered in Arizona, meaning that 0.4% of residents own an electric car and sales are up 225% year on year.

This is almost 10% of the USA’s total EV registrations, and year-on-year growth is set to boom, as cities like Phoenix set targets to increase the numbers of EVs on their streets. In fact, in 2022 EVs made up 5% of cars in Phoenix despite the state not adopting the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program or offering any incentives to those who purchase an EV. However, there are pro-EV laws and legislation in the state including access to HOV lanes and restricted parking areas for EV drivers.

Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Arizona?

Despite being one of the leading US states for EVs, Arizona no longer offers tax breaks for customers purchasing an electric vehicle. Incentives include access to HOV lanes at all times and more parking options. But there is no discount or rebate available.

Some programs that encourage homeowners to install EV charging points are in place, like the $500 rebate from Tucson Electric Power for those buying and installing chargers, and specific charging rates for customers. The Salt River Project offers a similar incentive for both home charging and businesses  looking to install EV charging points.

EV registration, licensing, and fees in Arizona

In Arizona, licensing costs are based on 60% of the car’s original purchase price. This makes AZ one of the most expensive states to register a car, with prices high due to there being so few cars in the state. However, EVs registered in Arizona are valued based on 1% of the manufacturer's MSRP, making it cheaper to own an EV in the state than a gas car. There are also no taxes on EVs in Arizona, although an alternative fuel license plate is required.

Some insurance brokers offer a discounted rate on EVs insured in Arizona, and it’s one of the few states covered by Tesla’s own insurance

Arizona EV charging network

As of 2023, there are almost 900 public charging stations with 2,800 ports in the state of Arizona. As the state aims to increase the number of EVs on its roads, it is expected that it will receive around $76.5 million from the US Department of Transportation, which will be spent on increasing access to EV charging points over the next five years .

Currently, rural areas of Arizona are underserved in terms of EV charging access despite having many EVs and other clean transport options, so there is an effort being put into improving infrastructure in these regions.

Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power offer rebate initiatives for Arizona residents looking to install at-home EV charging points. With electricity costing around $0.15 per kilowatt hour, it could cost as little as $10 to recharge a 70-kWh battery.  This makes it six times cheaper to drive an EV in Arizona than a gasoline vehicle.

Outro

So, if you’re heading out on an Arizona road trip you can’t do much better than hiring an EV. As the 7th best state for EVs in the USA, Arizona[VR(S1]  is set up with the infrastructure and benefits that make driving electric vehicles a breeze. From access to HOV lanes and better parking to cheaper charging, Arizona is a great place to own an EV.