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$2,500 rebate for electric vehicle buyers in Tennessee

Tennessee drivers behind the wheel of a Nissan LEAF could find their bank balance $10,000 better off thanks to federal and state rebates

The first 1,000 owners of Nissan LEAF all-electric cars in the state of Tennessee will be eligible for a $2,500 rebate.

And, the rebate will come in addition to the $7,500 tax credit available from the federal government for electric vehicle buyers.

The state’s Governor, Phil Bredesen, announced the new rebate program yesterday, at an event during which a 425-mile network of electric vehicle charging points was unveiled (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

The rebate is being funded through a $2.5 million provision in last year’s state budget, which uses funds collected from oil companies, and will be administered by Tennessee’s Department of Revenue.

Electric vehicle buyers will have their rebates applied at the time the vehicle is purchased at one of Nissan’s network of Tennessee dealerships.

Along with both the state and federal incentives, the price of a five-door, 100-mile-range Nissan LEAF car would drop to as low as $22,780.

The vehicle’s original recommended retail price is $32,780.

Key market

Tennessee is one of the key markets identified for early adoption of mass-production electric vehicles like the LEAF, which is being released in the state in December 2010.

It is one of six US states participating in the EV Project, the world’s largest roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The state will also be home to a lithium-ion battery production facility set to supply power units for the Nissan LEAF, and a facility to produce the LEAF itself from 2012 (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

“We’ve worked hard in Tennessee to become a leader in driving clean energy solutions and creating clean energy jobs,” Gov. Bredesen said.

“We’re already seeing additional jobs being created as a result of those efforts, and our participation in the Electric Vehicle project is another indication that Tennessee is leading the way to the future of clean energy and alternative fuels.”

Motor manufacturer Nissan said the Tennessee rebate program was “one more step” for the state to a green economy.

Brian Carolin, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Nissan North America, said: “The state has been a leader in the promotion of zero-emission mobility and is to be commended for creating the right environment for all-electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF to be an option for consumers in Tennessee.”

Other states that are offering financial incentives for the purchase of an electric vehicle include California, Georgia, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, and South Carolina.