Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation, offers up to $10,000 to state agencies and local governments for the incremental cost of new or converted AFVs. To be eligible, vehicles must comply with Buy America provisions or qualify for a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration, and must be garaged in areas of air quality nonattainment, as recognized by the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. For more information, see the Virginia CMAQ Incentive Program website.

Alternative fuel providers, bulk users, and retailers, or any person who fuels an alternative fuel vehicle from a private source that does not pay the alternative fuels tax must obtain an alternative fuel license from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). For more information, see the DMV Fuels Tax Licensing website. (Reference Virginia Code 58.1-2244)

Any motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, that has been modified to replace the internal combustion engine with an electric propulsion system must be titled by and registered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as a converted EV. DMV converted EV registration requires certification by a certified Virginia safety inspector that the conversion to electric propulsion is complete and proof that the vehicle has passed a Virginia safety inspection. The inspector may charge a fee, not to exceed $40, in addition to any fee imposed for Virginia safety inspection. Converted EVs must be equipped with special equipment, including high voltage cables, a temperature monitoring system for traction batteries other than lead acid batteries, and labeling on three sides of the vehicle identifying it as "Converted Electric." For more information, see the DMV Titling a Converted EV website. (Reference Virginia Code 46.2-602.3, 46.2-625, and 46.2-1001.1)

Retail PEV charging services provided by an individual who is not a public utility, public service corporation, or public service company, do not constitute the retail sale of electricity if the electricity is used solely for transportation purposes and the person providing the PEV charging service has procured the electricity from an authorized public utility. The Virginia State Corporation Commission may not set the rates, charges, or fees for retail PEV charging services provided by non-utilities. (Reference Virginia Code 56-1.2 and 56-232.2:1)

The AFV Conversion Fund (Fund) was created to assist commonwealth agencies, local government, and local school divisions with the incremental cost of commonwealth and local government owned AFVs, both original equipment manufacturer vehicles and aftermarket conversions. Funding may be used in conjunction with or as matching funds for any eligible federal grants for the same purpose. The Virginia Department of General Services and the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy established guidelines for contributions and reimbursements from the Fund for the purchase or conversion of commonwealth-owned vehicles. The Fund will include appropriations from the Virginia General Assembly as well as donations, grants, in-kind contributions, and other funding. For more information, see the Virginia Department of General Services website. (Reference Virginia Code 2.2-1176.1)

Alternative fuels used to operate on-road vehicles are taxed at a rate of $0.162 per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE). Alternative fuels are taxed at the same rate as gasoline and gasohol (5.1% of the statewide average wholesale price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline). Refer to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Fuels Tax Rates and Alternative Fuels Conversion website for fuel-specific GGE calculations. All-electric vehicles (EVs) registered in Virginia are subject to a $64.00 annual license tax at time of registration. For more information, see the Virginia DMV Electric Vehicles website. (Reference Virginia Code 58.1-2217 and 58.1-2249)

The Virginia emissions inspection program, which requires biennial inspections of motor vehicles, does not apply to vehicles exclusively powered by compressed or liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), hydrogen, a combination of compressed natural gas and hydrogen, or electricity. Qualified HEVs with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings of at least 50 miles per gallon (city) are also exempt from the emissions inspection program unless remote sensing devices indicate the HEV may not meet current emissions standards. For more information, including a list of HEVs that qualify, see the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles Emissions Inspections website. (Reference Virginia Code 46.2-1177 through 46.2-1178)

The Virginia Energy Plan (Plan) assesses the commonwealth's primary energy sources and recommends actions to meet the following goals: make Virginia the energy capital of the East Coast by expanding traditional and alternative energy production, jobs, and investment, and increasing energy conservation and efficiency; expand public education about Virginia's energy production and consumption, its effect on the economy, and methods to increase energy efficiency; assess the impact of federal clean air standards; and maximize investment in clean energy research and development. The Plan includes policies to promote alternative fuel and efficient vehicle use, encourage efficient driving techniques, and reduce vehicle miles traveled. For more information, see the Virginia Energy Plan website. (Reference Virginia Code 67-101, 67-102, 67-500, 67-501, 67-800, 67-801)

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) directs public utilities to evaluate time-differentiated rates and other incentives to encourage off-peak all-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle charging. The SCC may authorize public utilities to conduct pilot programs to determine the feasibility and implications of offering off-peak rates and other incentives. Pilot programs may include voluntary load control options, rate structures with financial incentives, rebates, or other incentives that offset the cost of purchasing or installing electric vehicle supply equipment for users who elect off-peak rate structures. An electric utility that participates in an approved pilot program may be entitled to recover annually the costs of its participation in any pilot program conducted on or after January 1, 2011. (Reference Virginia Code 56-232.2:1)

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) displaying the Virginia Clean Special Fuel license plate may use Virginia HOV lanes, regardless of the number of occupants. For HOV lanes serving the I-66 corridor, only registered vehicles displaying Clean Special Fuel license plates issued before July 1, 2011, are exempt from HOV lane requirements. For express lanes serving the I-95/I-395 corridor, registered vehicles displaying Clean Special Fuel license plates are not exempt from HOV lane occupancy requirements, but may use the lanes toll-free if equipped with an E-ZPass Flex set to "HOV" mode. Vehicles displaying Clean Special Fuel license plates are exempt from the Dulles Toll Road HOV lane requirements. Eligible vehicles include dedicated AFVs and some hybrid electric vehicles; see the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website for a complete list of qualifying vehicles. The annual fee for Clean Special Fuel license plates is $25 in addition to the prescribed fee for commonwealth license plates. This exemption expires September 30, 2019. For more information, see the Virginia Department of Transportation HOV Lanes website. (Reference Virginia Code 33.1-46.2 and 46.2-749.3)

The Virginia Board of Education may use funding from the Literary Fund to provide loans to school boards that convert school buses to operate on alternative fuels or construct alternative fueling stations. (Reference Virginia Code 22.1-146)

Local governments may reduce personal property taxes paid on AFVs, specifically vehicles that operate using natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or propane, hydrogen, or electricity, including low-speed vehicles. (Reference Virginia Code 58.1-3506)