Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5), Electric Ride 805, and regional partners invite community members to join free in-person and virtual events during National Drive Electric Month, Sept. 11-Oct. 12.

National Drive Electric Month showcases the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EVs).

Local events give residents the chance to explore EVs firsthand, connect with current EV drivers, and learn about financial incentives — including California’s new MyFirstEV rebate, organizers said.

● Online events – registration required:
o Sept. 23 and Oct. 23: All About Electric Vehicles Webinar – English (noon-12:45 p.m.)
o Sept. 23 and Oct. 23: Todo sobre los vehículos eléctricos – Spanish (6-7 p.m.)

● In-person events:
o Sept. 18: Santa Maria Downtown Fridays EV Showcase (5:30-8:30 p.m.)
o Sept. 26: Port of Hueneme Banana Festival EV Showcase (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
o Oct. 4: Ventura County EV Showcase (noon-4:30 p.m.)
o Oct. 17: Drive Electric Ventura Ride & Drive (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)

For more about National Drive Electric Month events near you, visit https://driveelectricmonth.org/.

A variety of financial incentives are available to help people purchase or lease a qualified new or used EV and install EV charging equipment at home, APCD said. Some programs may be combined to help maximize total savings:

● MyFirstEV Program
o Up to $3,500 for a new EV under $50,000, or $1,750 for a used EV under $25,000 for
California residents who are buying or leasing a zero-emission vehicle for the first time.
o Rebates are applied directly at the dealership by participating automakers, with rollout
dates varying by manufacturers.

● Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP)
o Clean Cars 4 All: Up to $12,000 to replace an existing gas- or diesel-powered 2010, or older vehicle and buy or lease a new or used EV, plus $2,000 EV charging incentive.
o Fair Financing: Loans up to $45,000 with an interest rate capped at 8%.

● Central Coast Community Energy (3CE)
o Electrify Your Ride Residential Program:
▪ Up to $3,500 for the purchase or lease of a new EV and up to $2,500 for a used EV.

▪ Up to $3,000 for Level 2 EV chargers and installation costs, with an extra $500 for bidirectional* EV chargers.
o Electrify Your Ride Commercial Program: Commercial customers, including multi-family
housing properties, are eligible for rebates up to $20,000 toward Level 2 EV chargers and installation costs with additional $500 rebate for bidirectional* chargers, and up to
$100,000 for Level 3 (DCFC) charger.

● Santa Barbara Clean Energy (SBCE)
o Residential EV Rebate Program:
▪ Income-qualified SBCE customers can receive up to $4,000 for the purchase or lease of a new or used qualified EV,
▪ Up to $600 for a Level 2 EV charger and up to $2,000 for electrical work and charger installation costs.
o Charge Up SB Program: Provides multi-family and affordable housing multi-family property owners who are SBCE customers with technical assistance and incentives up to
$60,000 for Level 1 and 2 outlets, Level 2 charging stations, make ready infrastructure,
and power management hardware and software.

● Southern California Edison (SCE)
o Pre-Owned EV Rebate Program: $1,000 standard rebate for the purchase or lease of a
used qualified EV; income-qualified customers can receive a total of $4,000 through the
Rebate Plus option
o Charge Ready Home Program: Up to $4,200 for qualified single-family homes to complete electrical panel upgrades to install a Level 2 EV charger.
o Charge Ready Programs: Owners of existing and new multi-family and commercial
properties are eligible for rebates for Level 2 and Level 3 chargers, as well as technical
support.

● Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E)
o Pre-Owned EV Rebate Program:
▪ $1,000 standard rebate for the purchase or lease of a used qualified EV – expires Sept. 30, 2026; beginning Oct. 1, 2026, only income-qualified customers will be eligible.
▪ Income-qualified PG&E customers can receive up to $4,000 for the purchase or
lease of a used qualified EV.
o Residential Charging Solutions Rebate
▪ Standard rebate: up to 50% of the purchase price of one eligible Level 2 charger after installation.
▪ Rebate Plus (income-qualified): up to $2,000 toward charger installation, or up to $5,000 when a panel upgrade is also needed.

● dcbel California Connected Home Rebate Program
o California residents that meet customer qualification criteria are eligible to receive up to
$13,800 in rebates and incentives for a bidirectional* DC charger, installation and
interconnection costs, enrollment in dynamic rate utility program, and ownership of a
bidirectional* EV.

● EVs for Everyone
o Free technical assistance available to residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and
Ventura counties who are seeking guidance on buying an EV and applying for incentives.

*Bidirectional charging allows electricity to move both into an EV battery and back out to power other sources, such as a home, individual devices, or the utility grid. Only certain EV models and chargers are designed with bidirectional capabilities.