Leading US Utility Goes Rogue, Offers More EV Rebates

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US President Donald Trump’s war on EVs is already sputtering out. The steady drumbeat of new charging stations is one sign of his inevitable defeat. In addition, almost three dozen EV models went up in sales last year compared to 2024, despite the loss of the $7,500 federal tax credit in September. Some of the nation’s leading utilities have also gone rogue, continuing to offer financial support for their customers to join the EV revolution. That includes Exelon, one of the largest utility companies in the US.

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain

Exelon’s ComEd branch is in the news of late because it has just announced another $70 million round of funds to support EV uptake in its territory in Illinois. The initial round totaled more than $160 million in EV funding. ComEd credits the program with stimulating the installation of more than 10,000 new EV chargers across Illinois.

The latest round of funding is significant because it indicates that the EV transition has legs regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. The ComEd program launched during the Biden administration, which wrapped the vehicle electrification movement in a warm embrace, supporting private sector and state-based efforts to decarbonize. The initial round was also consistent with Biden’s economic and environmental justice policies.

EVs and justice both had a setback after Trump took office for the second time last January, but then again, so did Trump himself. Visible signs of rapid cognitive decline have been piling up. The latest example popped up on the evening of February 8, when the nation’s Commander-in-Chief issued his latest social media message on matters of great consequence to the nation:

“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER! It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World. This “Show” is just a “slap in the face” to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock market and 401(k)s in History! There is nothing in spirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD — And, by the way, the NFL should immediately replace its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”

New Rebates To Replace The Old Tax Credits

Wait, there’s a new kickoff rule? If can explain that, drop a note in the comment thread (no, not you Mr. President. Go back to your shuffle board).

Regardless of the word salad spewing forth from the White House, ComEd is forging ahead with its vehicle electrification plan. In the new round of funding, ComEd is offering rebates of $7,500 to $240,000 for new or pre-owned EVs, purchased or leased. With a focus on business and public sector fleets, this part of the program totals $35 million. All vehicle weight classes eligible, including heavy-duty trucks at the high end of the rebate scale.

The new round of funding also makes more than $4 million available for Level 2 home EV chargers, covering rebates of up to $2,500 per household. Another $29 million is earmarked to prepare private or public sites for Level 2 and DC fast charging stations.

“For all future funded projects, equity will remain prioritized throughout ComEd’s investments,” ComEd elaborated in a press statement, clearly not buying the discrimination messages that pouring forth from Trump and his enablers.

“More than 50 percent of funds are reserved for low-income customers and projects located in, or primarily serving, low income or EIECs, who are also eligible for higher rebate amounts,” ComEd emphasized. EIEC is short for Equity Investment Eligible Communities, referring to Illinois communities with a documented history of exclusion from economic opportunities, and/or communities that bear a disproportionate share of air pollution.

See You In Court, Grandpa

Other utilities are also continuing to support EV sales through rebates, assistance with charging station infrastructure, or time-sensitive discounts on electricity rates for EV charging. Assistance is also available from some state governments, and it’s easy to find policy trackers. Kelly Blue Book has one, for example.

Meanwhile, private sector interest in EV charging shows no sign of slowing down. Retail locations are jockeying for customers, any customers, and EVs offer a ripe opportunity to attract drivers who are more likely to linger.

Long-distance travel is a next-level challenge requiring a robust public charging station network. However, upon taking office last year, US President Donald Trump pulled $7 billion in Biden-era NEVI (the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program) funding earmarked for fast chargers along key routes identified by state transportation planners.

Some states have already spent their share of the pot, though, and fast-chargers are making their way into other locations as well, including the headquarters of the iconic US motorsports organization NASCAR. The firm Paren calculates that 18,000 new fast chargers made their way into the EV ecosystem in 2025. A group of state attorneys general also took Trump to court last year seeking restoration of the NEVI funds, and they won. By October NEVI was back on track.

Not willing to declare victory and go home, last week reports surfaced that Trump and his enablers in Congress have now targeted more than $900 million in funds from the federal Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant program for elimination. Part of the CFI program focuses on charging access at public locations. Public parking facilities, public buildings, public schools, or public parks make the list cited by the US Department of Energy. “Low-income, underserved, rural, and high-density communities will be prioritized for Community Program funding,” the Energy Department emphasizes (looks like someone didn’t get the memo about not helping low-income people). Be that as it may, the CFI program also prioritizes key transportation corridors, and activities that involve education and community engagement.

“One of the first things Donald Trump did when he got into office (the second time) was try to stop funding for and development of cleantech,” CleanTechnica editor Zachary Shahan remarked on February 5 in a state-of-play rundown of Trump’s latest attempt to quash the EV transition.

“Honestly, it’s one of the most ridiculous things one could imagine a president focusing on, but then again, that list is long with this one,” he noted. Might as well add the retraction of the new kickoff rule to the list…

Photo: The ComEd branch of the powerful US utility Exelon has just doubled down on EV rebates and financial assistance for new charging stations.