EV Charging in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's DRIVE EV rebate offers up to $3,000 for a new battery-electric vehicle, with an additional DRIVE+ income-qualified top-off of up to $1,500. The state adopted Advanced Clean Cars II. Rhode Island's small size means most residents are within easy range of public charging, making it one of the more EV-practical states in New England.

Last updated June 2026

EV Charging Snapshot

Moderate

EV Adoption Rate: 6.0%
Public Chargers: 1,200
Top Incentive: DRIVE EV Rebate, up to $3,000 for a new battery-electric vehicle

Adoption score

6/10

What applies to your address?

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EV adoption snapshot

EVs registered in Rhode Island

6,900

2024 data · U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center

Utilities serving Rhode Island

Utility coverage for Rhode Island is being expanded. Major utility pages will appear here as they ship.

Residential Incentives

DRIVE EV Rebate Program

Up to $3,000 for a new BEV or FCEV, up to $2,000 for a new PHEV, up to $2,500 for a used BEV or FCEV, up to $1,750 for a used PHEV (rebate amounts effective for vehicles purchased or leased on or after January 5, 2026)

Rhode Island residents purchasing or leasing a qualifying EV. New vehicles capped at $60,000 MSRP, used at $40,000. Administered by the RI Office of Energy Resources and Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

Apply / learn more →

DRIVE+ Income-Qualified Rebate

Additional up to $1,500 stackable on top of the base DRIVE EV rebate, for a combined maximum of up to $4,500

Rhode Island DRIVE EV applicants who participate in a qualifying state or federal income-based assistance program

Apply / learn more →

Rhode Island Energy ConnectedSolutions EV Demand Response

$50 instant enrollment incentive plus $20 annual participation incentive per qualifying EV or Level 2 charger

Rhode Island Energy residential customers in eligible rate classes (A-16, A-60) who enroll a qualifying EV or charger and allow managed charging during summer peak events

Apply / learn more →

Federal EV Charger Tax Credit (30C)

Up to $1,000 (30% of equipment plus installation)

Residential charging equipment installed at a primary residence in a qualifying low-income or non-urban census tract, placed in service by June 30, 2026

Apply / learn more →

Commercial & Property Owner Incentives

Rhode Island Energy Commercial EV Charging Station Program

Make-ready infrastructure rebates plus equipment incentives for Level 2 and DC fast charging; coverage up to 100% of eligible installation costs for select workplace, multifamily, university, and medical campus sites

Rhode Island Energy commercial customers installing networked EV charging at workplaces, businesses, multi-unit dwellings, universities, and medical campuses

Apply / learn more →

NEVI Formula Program

Up to 80% of project costs; Rhode Island received approximately $22.9 million over five years

DC fast charging at sites along Rhode Island's designated Alternative Fuel Corridor (I-95), spaced no more than 50 miles apart and within one mile of the corridor, meeting NEVI technical requirements

Apply / learn more →

Federal EV Charger Tax Credit (30C Commercial)

Up to $100,000 per charging port (6% base, 30% with prevailing wage and apprenticeship)

Commercial charging equipment installed in eligible low-income or non-urban census tracts, placed in service by June 30, 2026

Apply / learn more →

Policy details

EV time-of-use rates

rare

Rhode Island Energy, the state's sole investor-owned electric utility, does not currently publish a dedicated residential EV time-of-use rate. EV drivers interested in shifting load off-peak should review Rhode Island Energy's ConnectedSolutions demand response offerings and any active managed-charging pilots directly with the utility, since program structure and incentive levels change between program years.

SourceVerified Jun 2026

Net metering / solar+EV

net billing

Rhode Island compensates customer-sited generation under a net-billing framework established by the Public Utilities Commission for Rhode Island Energy customers, with export credits set at less than the full retail rate. Pascoag Utility District and Block Island Utility District operate under separate municipal tariffs. Customers should consult the current PUC-approved tariff and their utility for applicable credit rates, eligibility caps, and true-up mechanics.

SourceVerified Jun 2026

Right to charge

No statewide statute

Rhode Island has no dedicated right-to-charge statute. The Rhode Island Condominium Act (G.L. Chapter 34-36.1) and the older Rhode Island Condominium Ownership Act do not preempt association authority over EV charging installation; associations may lawfully restrict or prohibit installation under existing governing documents.

SourceVerified Jun 2026

EV registration fees

Rhode Island's first-ever EV and PHEV registration surcharges took effect January 1, 2026, enacted through the FY26 state budget. The annual surcharge is $200 for fully battery-electric vehicles and $100 for plug-in hybrids. Because Rhode Island registers passenger vehicles on a two-year cycle, EV owners typically pay the surcharge as a lump sum at registration renewal. Owners should confirm current amounts and any exemptions with the Rhode Island DMV.

EV: $200/year

PHEV: $100/year

SourceVerified Jun 2026

Public charging network

Tesla Supercharger, ChargePoint, and Blink are active across the state. Providence has strong charger density. Rhode Island's small size (48 miles north-to-south) means almost any EV can travel across the entire state on a single charge. I-95 through Providence is well-covered, and NEVI build-out is targeting fast-charging gaps along the corridor.

Station-network counts for Rhode Island will appear here once the next AFDC ingest runs.

Regulatory Environment

Rhode Island adopted Advanced Clean Cars II, requiring escalating ZEV new vehicle sales toward 100% by 2035. The DRIVE EV program is administered by the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources and the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. Beginning January 1, 2026, the state imposes a $200 annual surcharge on battery-electric vehicles and $100 on plug-in hybrids, collected through the DMV. Rhode Island Energy, a PPL Corporation subsidiary that acquired the former National Grid Rhode Island distribution business in May 2022, is the sole investor-owned electric utility and administers the state's ConnectedSolutions demand response and commercial EV charging programs.