Woohoo! Austin offering incentives to electric vehicle owners!

(Austin wants to show you the money! (Image origin: flickr/clickykbd )
Let's start things out with a piece of the "electric puzzle" that is going to be the real catalyst for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the USA. INCENTIVES, or more generally speaking, city support for electric vehicles. It may come in the form of premium parking spots, subsidized/free parking or areas with electrical outlets so you can charge up while your parked... but of course, who can turn down a little bit-a green?

Austin, the great city it is, has their own incentive program in place. It goes like this:

1. Applicant must be an Austin Energy electric customer.
2. Applicant intends to live in the Austin Energy service area for a minimum of five years.
3. Five (5) qualifying electric vehicles, of any combination, per applicant are eligible.
4. All-electric vehicle must be new and purchased from the approved dealership list.
5. Applicant may receive the following incentives: $500 for all-electric cars, $250 for all-electric scooters, $150 for all-electric motorcycles and select scooters, and $100 for all-electric bicycles.
6. Funding is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
7. Final incentive level determined after Austin Energy verifies the electric vehicle is a qualifying model and sold by an approved dealership.
8. Current incentive valid for the life of program (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010) or until program funds are expended, whichever occurs first.
9. Incentive application must be submitted within sixty (60) days of vehicle purchase.
10. Approved participants will receive the incentive check six (6) to eight (8) weeks from the date the application is approved.
11. Austin Energy reserves the right to perform a one-time spot inspection to verify the purchase is a qualifying electric vehicle.

So, it's not a huge sum but at $500 on your electric car it will at least help pay for the batteries! Add that to the Federal Income Tax Credits (10% of the cost of the vehicle up to $4000) and it really starts to pay off! I wonder though... Electric skateboards aren't on the list. There are some nice ones out there. We'll have to look into that one.

Oh and if you have a business with a electric recharging station you can earn up to $100,000 in tax credits. That's nice.