Guide to Electric Vehicles in Iowa

Known for its rolling hills and expansive farmland, Iowa is a state best explored on the open road. And with few urban areas or major cities to contend with, you’ll likely encounter a clear drive and quiet highways – ideal for cruising in an electric vehicle.

Uncrowded streets, long straight roads, and breathtaking scenery could be even better when you go electric. But before you hit the hills of Iowa on your road trip you might want to brush up on Iowa electric car laws and regulations.

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

How Many EVs Are There in Iowa?

At the end of 2022, Iowa had 10,712 registered EVs– 0.073%  of the state’s four million registered vehicles. This is one of the lowest numbers across the United States, and could be due to low population density in Iowa. However, it still represents a 62% increase between 2020 and 2021.

These figures are in the same league as other less populated states, including the likes of Idaho (5,940), Nebraska (4,570), and Vermont (5,260). The number of electric vehicles registered in Iowa is limited compared to California and Texas, with the Golden State boasting almost one million registrations and the Lone Star State close to 150,000.

Iowa is not one of the 13 states  in the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program. However, there are electric car rebates in Iowa, where EV drivers may save up to $500 when buying new fully electric and hybrid vehicles. Incentives like these may help to motivate people to try alternatives to gas-fueled cars.

While emission-free motoring hasn’t yet taken off in Iowa, numbers are still on the up. As long as incentives stay in place, it could be enough of a motivation for more people to adopt this form of automotive technology that goes way back.

Are There Incentives for Electric Cars in Iowa?

Other than the MidAmerican $500 rebate for those who purchase or lease new electric cars, Iowa does not offer any incentives for EV drivers. There are also limited charging benefits and unfortunately no tax credits to claim.

EV Registration, Licensing, and Fees in Iowa

It costs $130 annually to register a full EV in Iowa and $65 for plug-in hybrid vehicles . Where many states offer reduced fees for EV drivers, Iowa imposes over double the taxes on EVs compared to gas vehicles. As of July 2023, owners of EV charging stations are also liable to pay the state government $0.026 for every KWH of electricity used to charge an EV or other energy storage device.

Iowa EV charging network

Iowa has over 300 public EV charging locations across the state. There are no subsidies offered to people wanting to charge up their ride with the installation of their own home electric car chargers.

However, the electric future looks bright in Iowa. In 2022, the state authorized federal funding of $7.6 million dollars towards Iowa EV infrastructure. This means we can expect to see more chargers on the roads in the coming years. But as of 2023, Iowa is in the bottom 10 states for EV ownership and incentives.

While Iowa might not be the most prominent state for buying and registering an EV, it’s still equipped with the infrastructure you need to drive your own electric car. The good news is that once you’re on the expansive roads of Iowa, you’ll be able to charge it at one of hundreds of EV charging points while coasting silently through its verdant landscapes.

The advantage of a Hertz EV rental is that you can use it as an extended test drive. Whatever the occasion, renting from Hertz means you can try the latest model EVs for yourself. Why not cruise the winding roads with a quiet Tesla? Your ride, your way.