SECTION 1. Chapter 25A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 11I the following new section:–

Section 11J. (a) (1). The commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to establish a program providing rebates to consumers who purchase or lease a qualifying plug-in electric vehicle. For the purpose of this, qualified vehicles are those that (1) are made by a manufacturer primarily for use on public streets, roads and highways, (2) have not been modified from the original manufacturer’s specifications, (3) have been acquired for use or lease by the consumer and not for resale, (4) have a shipping weight not exceeding 8,500 pounds, (5) have a speed capability of at least 55 miles per hour, (6) are capable of being recharged from an external source of electricity and (7) must be propelled to a significant extent by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery. The initial rebate for vehicles with a battery capacity of 10 kilowatt-hours or more shall be up to $3,000 for vehicles with a retail value of $60,000 or less. The rebate for vehicles with a battery capacity of not less than 4 kilowatt-hours, but less than 10 kilowatt-hours shall be up to $2,000 for vehicles with a retail value of $50,000 or less.

(a)(2). Said program shall be funded from amounts remaining in the settlement of Commonwealth v. Volkswagen AG, No. 16-2266D, together with appropriations from the general fund and any funds available from the United States Government.

(b) The commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to establish a program providing rebates to consumers who install an electric vehicle charging stations. The rebate shall be $500.

(c) The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the rebate programs established in these sections.

SECTION 2.  The provisions of this act shall expire three years from its passage unless otherwise modified, terminated or extended.