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Electric Vehicle Resources

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Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint, contribute to a healthier community, spend less on maintenance and repair, or reduce monthly fuel bills, there are many reasons to choose to drive electric. We have compiled resources to help you understand the technologies, capture available incentives, and find key information to make the switch.

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Through Santa Barbara Clean Energy’s Residential EV program, City of Santa Barbara residents can apply for rebates from $1,000 to $4,000 when purchasing an electric vehicle, a Level 2 EV charger, or completing make-ready work for the future installation of an EV charger. Find details and apply Here.

The Federal government currently offers incentives in the form of tax credits for both Alternative Fuel Vehicles (includes electric and fuel cell vehicles) and charging infrastructure. You can receive up to $7,500 tax credit for purchasing an Electric or Fuel Cell vehicle and up to $1000 tax credit for the costs of EV charging infrastructure or electrical upgrades. Learn more about the IRS rules for alternative fuel vehicles at Clean Vehicle Tax Credits.

The Driving Clean Assistance Program (DCAP) provides financial incentives to help low-income Californians purchase or lease new or used electric vehicles. Eligible participants can receive up to $10,000, with an additional $2,000 available for charging equipment or $7,500 for clean mobility options. The program also offers financial counseling and referrals to lenders to ensure fair financing options.

Drive Clean California which helps you capture all the incentives available to you based on the location that you live in and the vehicle that you want to purchase.

The City has sponsored over 50 public Level-2 EV chargers over the past ten years and continues to expand EV charging access. The City is currently developing additional public charger installations and has already secured more than $3.5 million in grant funding for new installations throughout the City.

Most City-sponsored EV chargers are on the ChargePoint network. To activate these stations, hold your ChargePoint membership card or RFID credit card to the front of the display screen. If you do not have a ChargePoint card or RFID credit card, call the toll free 1-888 number printed on the station. The holster will unlock and you can begin charging your vehicle after activating the station. More detailed instructions are available at ChargePoint.com/how-to-charge.

Visit ChargePoint.com, or call 888-758-4389 for payment, membership and ChargePoint Network information.

City-sponsored Tesla Stations require the use of the Tesla Charging app on a smart device or connect automatically with a Tesla vehicle.

Electric Vehicle Parking Permits

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Electric Vehicle Basics and Resources

Electric Vehicle Basics & Buying Tips

Electric Vehicle Charger Connectors, Types, and Charging Times Explained

1 Note that charging speed is affected by many factors, including the charger manufacturer, condition, and age; air temperature; vehicle battery capacity; and vehicle age and condition.

2 Different vehicles have different charge ports. For DCFC, the Combined Charging System (CCS) connector is based on an open international standard and is common on vehicles manufactured in North America and Europe; the CHArge de Move (CHAdeMO) connector is most common for Japanese manufactured vehicles. Tesla vehicles have a unique connector that works for all charging speeds, including at Tesla’s “Supercharger” DCFC stations, while non-Tesla vehicles require adapters at these stations.

3 AC = alternating current; DC = direct current.

4 Assuming an 8-kWh battery; most plug-in hybrids do not work with fast chargers.

5 Assuming a 60-kWh battery.

6 To 80 percent charge. Charging speed slows as the battery gets closer to full to prevent damage to the battery. Therefore, it is more cost- and time-efficient for EV drivers to use direct current (DC) fast charging until the battery reaches 80 percent, and then continue on their trip. It can take about as long to charge the last 10 percent of an EV battery as the first 90 percent.

Electric Vehicle Charging location

EV Charging Locations

Downtown Parking Lot Map

City Lot 6
(Granada Garage, 1221 Anacapa St.) 8' 2" max vehicle height
4 Level-2 Charging Spaces (ground level)
30 Level-2 Charging Spaces (rooftop level)

City Lot 7
(Library Garage, 1115 Anacapa St.) 8' 2" max vehicle height
2 Level-2 Charging Spaces (ground level)

Helena Lot
(217 Helena Ave)
3 Level-2 Charging Spaces

City Lot 10
(Ortega Lot, 641 Anacapa St.) 7' max vehicle height
3 Level-2 Charging Spaces (2nd floor-Tesla-All EVs can use)
4 DCFC Charging Spaces (2nd floor-125kW Charge Point)
12 Tesla Superchargers Charging Spaces (3rd floor-Tesla Only)

City Lot 11
(Old Town Lot, 523 Anacapa St.)
3 Level-2 Charging Spaces

Harbor Main Lot - Los Baños Pool (125 Harbor Way)
2 Level-2 Charging Spaces

Hollister Parking Lot (6100 Hollister Ave.)
2 Level-2 Charging Spaces

Electric Vehicle Charging Rate

The City’s 40+ public Level-2 Charge Point EV chargers are now being supported by a new partner, DirtRoad. You current ChargePoint RFID card and phone APP will still work and the chargers will function the same, but may look a bit different. Additionally, the chargers, and thus your cars, are now being supplied with 100% carbon free energy from Santa Barbara Clean Energy, SBCE.

Charging rates have been updated for the first time in several years to reflect increased electricity rates and time-of-use time periods. Due to increased demand, an idle fee has been added to encourage customers to move vehicles after their vehicle is charged*, increasing the availability of chargers.

*Existing Granada Garage EV Parking Permit holders exempted.

Rates updated for Winter 2024-2025

DCFC Chargers
Season	Time of Day	TOU period	Times	Charging Fees	Idle Time	Idle Fee
Winter 2024 -2025	Early Morning	Mid-Peak	12pm-8am	$.43/kWh	20 minutes	$.25/ minute
	Mid-Day	Off-Peak	8am-4pm	$.41/kWh
	Evenings	On-Peak	4pm-9pm	$.75/kWh
	Night-time	Mid-Peak	9m-8pm	$.43/kWh

Level 2 Chargers
Season	Time of Day	TOU period	Times	Charging Fees	Idle Time	Idle Fee
Winter 2024- 2025	Early Morning	Mid-Peak	9m-8am	$.43/kWh	30 minutes	$.25/ minute
	Mid-Day	Off-Peak	8am-4pm	$.41/kWh
	Evenings	On-Peak	4pm-9pm	$.75/kWh
	Night-time	Mid-Peak	9m-8am	$.43/kWh

Electric Vehicle Resources

Incentives

Permitting EV Chargers

Electric Vehicle Charging

Charger Map

Additional Resources

EV Charging Locations