Electric Vehicles (EVs) can be a great option for individuals looking to cut their transportation carbon footprint, invest in new technologies and help reduce transportation emissions here in Utah. 

The State of Utah is quickly adapting to new technologies that allow individuals to contribute to a clean transportation future for our cities and our communities. Utah ownership of electric vehicles continues to increase year by year (from just 2,500 vehicles in 2016 to over 16,000 vehicles registered in Utah in 2021) including a major increase in plug-in electric vehicles (1,700 in 2016 to 7,500 in 2021 (source). 

“Utah is the #9 state for highest number of registered electric vehicles” as of April 2022 (source).

  • Percentage of registered vehicles that are electric: 0.46%
  • Total registered electric vehicles: 11,230 (#18 overall)
  • Number of statewide charging stations: 908 (#17 overall)
  • Number of charging ports per 100 EVs: 17.6 (#25 overall)
Estimates shown6 from GREET 2 2021 are intended to be illustrative only. Estimates represent model year 2020. Emissions will vary based on assumptions about the specific vehicles being compared, EV battery size and chemistry, vehicle lifetimes, and the electricity grid used to recharge the EV, among other factors.
Above, the blue bar represents emissions associated with the battery. The orange bars encompass the rest of the vehicle manufacturing (e.g., extracting materials, manufacturing and assembling other parts, and vehicle assembly) and end-of-life (recycling or disposal). The gray bars represent upstream emissions associated with producing gasoline or electricity (U.S. mix), and the yellow bar shows tailpipe emissions during vehicle operations.

Quick facts for Individual Consumers

Does the State of Utah offer any vehicle purchasing credit/incentives for EVs?Unfortunately, the State of Utah does not offer any current vehicle purchasing incentives
Do Utahans have access to the Federal Tax Credits for purchasing an EV?Yes! Utahans may you may be eligible for a clean vehicle tax credit up to $7,500 for a new vehicle (Source) or for a credit that equals 30% percent of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for a used vehicle (Source).
Can Utahans get support with home charging stations?Yes! Under the Residential Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rebate from Rocky Mountain Power, residents may be eligible for up to $200 for the purchase and installation of a Level 2 EV charging station. For more details, visit Utah EV Incentives from Rocky Mountain Power.
What are current Registration Fees for Alternative Fuel Vehicles in Utah?*All-electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) owners are required to pay an additional annual registration fee. To view current registration fees, per year, visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Note: The additional registration fee paid by EVs and vehicles fueled exclusively by a fuel other than gasoline, diesel, natural gas, or propane must be equal to the maximum annual road usage charge.
Road Usage Charge Program. The owner of an all-electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) may enroll in the Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) mileage-based roadway operations and maintenance fee program in lieu of paying additional EV, PHEV, or HEV registration fees. To participate, the owner or lessee must enroll, report mileage driven, and pay the road usage fee for each payment period.

For current rates, please visit the Alternative Fuels Data Center
Where can I find more details about what Utah is doing to support the adoption of EVs?Utah EV Master Plan (2018)
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) in Utah (2022)

EV Groups in Utah

Local Electric Vehicle Clubs can be a great way to connect with other folks who share an interest and passion for electric vehicles. These clubs offer an active and organized space for EV owners, supporters, future buyers to share passions and connect. These groups participate in Ride and Drive and other EV focused events, have local web-based sharing forums and can be a great resource for those looking to connect to or gather information from other EV owners.

Wasatch Electric Vehicle Association: This is the Utah chapter of the Electric Automotive Association. This group exists to help owners or prospective owners connect with the EV community.

WasatchEVA@gmail.com

Electric Vehicle Club (EVC): EVC is passionate about change in our Utah community. A University of Utah affiliated club at @ubusiness ! Click the link to join!

Check out the Tesla Owners of Utah group to keep up with meets and events, connect with local Tesla fans.

Become a Tesla Owners Club Engagement Hub Member.

       

Southern Utah EV Owners list

Mark Larsen maintains a website with numerous posts about EV ownership, accessories, road trips, and advocacy. Among the many resources of the website are quarterly reports on EV sales in both Utah and the USA and online tools to help people compare the carbon footprints of their gas cars with EVs.

https://www.casteyanqui.com/ev/index_advocacy
To be added to the Southern Utah EV owners e-,mail list, reach out to Mark
mark.larsen@casteyanqui.com

Southern Utah All Vehicles Electric Rally
@UtahRally on Twitter (X)
EV owners group traveling together to scenic Southern Utah destinations
https://twitter.com/UtahRally

Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association
Since 1992, The Nevada Electric Vehicle Association has supported the evolution and adoption of electric vehicles of all types – cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, bikes and more – as a mode of transportation that’s more enjoyable, lower cost of ownership, and more environmentally responsible. Through our efforts of Education, Visibility, and Advocacy, we hope to help usher in this cleaner way of moving into the mainstream for the Las Vegas community, the state of Nevada, and beyond.
https://lasvegaseva.org/


EV Workforce Development and Training

Developing new clean energy jobs is a priority of the Biden Administration. “The Biden Administration plans to increase energy efficiency and weatherization programs; its plans to boost renewable energy and proposed investments in modernizing the nation’s power grid and transportation system with more electric vehicles and charging stations will also provide a much needed shot in the arm for clean energy companies post-COVID 19. At the same time, President Biden’s plans to invest $100 billion in workforce training will help create new career paths to clean energy for millions of Americans” (source). 

Did you know that Utah is home to one of the leading EV training programs in the US? Weber State University is stepping up to support the next generation of workforce by offering EV training programs to help our workforce build their skills in a growing industry.

Electric Vehicle Training – Bootcamp

Weber State University’s Automotive Services Training Program. This three-phase program is the only one of its kind in the region. While you will benefit from basic electrical theory training before taking Phase 1 of this three-phase course, no prerequisites are required!

EV 101 Course by Recurrent Auto

The course’s goal is simple: We want it to be easier for any driver to buy and own an electric car. That means understanding the basics of battery chemistry and physics, while keeping a safe distance from boring lectures or academic acronyms. I promise, only the things you need to know!