From Care2.com (http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming/blog/chevy-volt-approved-for-5-000-ca-tax-rebate/):

Future Chevy Volt owners in California can breathe a sigh of relief: General Motors will come out with a version of the plug-in hybrid that will qualify for the state's generous tax rebates in 2012.

The Volt is already eligible for a up to $7,500 in federal credits, but with a $41,000 price tag ($44,600 fully loaded), Chevy hopes eligibility for additional state rebates will enhance accessibility.

According to Green Tech Media's Michael Kanellos, who recently spoke with the Volt's vehicle line director, Tony Posawatz, To qualify for the state rebate, GM has to meet the standards of the Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) specifications.

These specifications require cars in this category to guarantee their batteries will last for ten years and/or 150,000 miles. The idea behind the law is to prevent companies from trying to game the regulations by putting out a car with a small battery or a battery that may not last.

Until it was announced that GM would attempt to build a AT-PZEV-compliant version of the Volt, the Nissan LEAF seemed to have the upper hand in the U.S. electric vehicle market. The current LEAF meets all ATPZEV requirements and has approved for solo access to California's High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.

Unlike the Nissan LEAF, the Chevy Volt has a range-extending gasoline engine, and experts say that it's this feature that's making it hard to fit into current governmental tax credit structures.

The pot of money available for the $5000 rebates is extremely limited. It will probably be gone by this summer. So while a 2012 Volt may be eligible for the rebates it's not likely that you'd see the rebate.

So...to clarify, only MY 2012 Volts that meet the AT-PZEV standards will qualify? So I guess if you wanted to play this...Put your name on a list now for delivery of a 2012 model sometime this Summer. :)

So...to clarify, only MY 2012 Volts that meet the AT-PZEV standards will qualify?
GM has a present intention to get the certification in 2012. It could be MY 2013. Note this certification also will allow the Volt to use the HOV lanes with a single occupant, so it has value irrespective of the $5000 rebate. (Also for GM).

The pot of money available for the $5000 rebates is extremely limited. It will probably be gone by this summer. So while a 2012 Volt may be eligible for the rebates it's not likely that you'd see the rebate.

Absolutely true, money will be gone. Especially since its the same pot as the commercial vehicles which get up to $20k. Staples is putting 30 of these commercial electrics into service so that's $600k out of the pot just for them! Total pot = 9.1M. So if half of that goes to commercial sales such as Staples, the rest is gone after 900 leafs are sold in California.

Are we 100% sure there will be no money left? From articles I've read, the money that has been officially allocated already (some $9.1 million or whatever) definitely will run out. But why would Posawatz make such a statement about Volts getting rebates if there definitely won't be additional funding? From what I gather, the bill funding this rebate allocates $200 million/year for various programs until 2015; CARB gets about $42.3 million of that, and has since allocated $4.1 million the first year for the rebates and $5 million the second year (current fiscal year). Have there been any definitive statements that this is the last round, that there won't be another $5 million next year (2011-2012)?

From the CARB web site:
"Clean Vehicle Rebate Project funding will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding for the Project is expected through 2015, with specific funding amounts determined annually by the Air Resources Board."

Of course with California's budget problems the way they are, I'd consider this rebate only a "maybe" at best, not definite. But is there definitely zero chance of a rebate?

Are we 100% sure there will be no money left? From articles I've read, the money that has been officially allocated already (some $9.1 million or whatever) definitely will run out. But why would Posawatz make such a statement about Volts getting rebates if there definitely won't be additional funding? From what I gather, the bill funding this rebate allocates $200 million/year for various programs until 2015; CARB gets about $42.3 million of that, and has since allocated $4.1 million the first year for the rebates and $5 million the second year (current fiscal year). Have there been any definitive statements that this is the last round, that there won't be another $5 million next year (2011-2012)?

From the CARB web site:
"Clean Vehicle Rebate Project funding will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding for the Project is expected through 2015, with specific funding amounts determined annually by the Air Resources Board."

Of course with California's budget problems the way they are, I'd consider this rebate only a "maybe" at best, not definite. But is there definitely zero chance of a rebate?

Yes, they can of course always increase the funding. But what has been allocated thus far will be gone, so UNLESS they do increase the funding there will be nothing left for 2012 Volts.

By the way....thanks for screwing us 2011 Volt owners out of five grand!

Bummer. I was hoping to at least get an HOV sticker with for this Volt at some point. I was spoiled all these years with the HOV sticker for the Prius. Who knows...maybe CA will OK the 2011 Volt for the HOV sticker if/when they legalize the Volt's access to CA chargers.

The original article may be incorrect regarding the amount of rebate (irrespective if the rebate will still be available in 2012/2013).

If the volt will qualify as an AT-PZEV classed vehicle, the applicable california rebate is $3000, not $5000. $5000 is for Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) only, which are defined as 100% electric power via battery or hydrogen fuel cell.

It may be that the volt will also be classed as all-electric but current wording and the issues noted in the article suggest that it would be classed as a "Plug-in Hybrid", gaining the $3000 rebate as an "Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle".

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/factsheets/clean_vehicle_incentives.pdf

Considering the state is $28 billion in the hole, I don't think you can count on anything right now. :(

Who knows...maybe CA will OK the 2011 Volt for the HOV sticker if/when they legalize the Volt's access to CA chargers.
The rebates are subject to the funds being available but the HOV stickers are limited to 80K so those should be no problem. But note GM is saying they'll move to get the car certified in 2012 not that they'll get the MY 2012 Volt certified. Could make a difference of a year. FWIW the funds aren't part of the budget, they come from fines for gross polluters and so forth.

FWIW the funds aren't part of the budget, they come from fines for gross polluters and so forth.

And redevelopment funds aren't part of the budget either, they come from special property taxes. That doesn't mean CA isn't going to just grab those monies regardless of why they were authorized.

Anyone know what's the status of CA VOLT HOV rebates?

Is it applicable for leasing as well?

Yes it's applicable if the Volt is HOV certified. However, it's $1500 and CARB has to have the money, which it apparently does. http://energycenter.org/index.php/incentive-programs/clean-vehicle-rebate-project/cvrp-program-status It applies to leases of AT LEAST three years. If you dispose of the car within three years they want their money back.

I just received my $1500 rebate check for my 2012 CA HOV certified Volt! Thanks to the Calif Center for Sustainable Energy.


Volt 1: White 2012 #4038
Volt 2: Crystal Red 2012 # 15079