New battery electric vehicle
$7,500 for a new battery EV on DEQ’s eligible list.
2026 Oregon Charge Ahead Rebate
See if you qualify for $7,500 toward an EV.
Oregon’s Charge Ahead Rebate is for income-qualified households buying or leasing an eligible EV. The 2026 window runs Aug. 25–Nov. 4, and prequalification is open now.
Oregon DEQ makes the decision. Butler built this guide to help you compare the rules, rebate amounts, and current vehicles.
2026 purchase windowAug. 25 — Nov. 4Purchase or lease must happen during the open period.
New battery EV$7,500Charge Ahead rebate
Prequalification is open now
Check official funding Eligible purchases and leases begin Aug. 25, 2026. A purchase before that date does not qualify.
Rebate amounts
This is a rebate—not a tax credit claimed later.
Your amount depends on whether the vehicle is new or used and whether it is a battery EV or plug-in hybrid. Charge Ahead cannot be combined with Oregon’s Standard Rebate.
New plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
$5,000 for a new plug-in hybrid on DEQ’s eligible list.
Used battery electric vehicle
At least $2,500 when the price is $2,500 or more, up to the lesser of $4,000 or 30% of the vehicle price.
Used plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
The lesser of $2,500 or the vehicle purchase price.
One rebate, not two.Choose the Standard Rebate or Charge Ahead. Oregon DEQ says they may not be combined.
Two-minute check
Check your income limit and estimated rebate.
Use the two calculators for a quick first pass. Oregon DEQ makes the final decision.
01
Income guideline estimatorCompare your income with the 2026 guideline.
2026 income limit$86,560
Based on these entries, your household appears to be below the guideline.
Uses the 2026 HHS guideline for the contiguous states, multiplied by 400%. DEQ uses adjusted gross annual household income and verifies eligibility. “Household” means people living together as one economic unit.
02
Rebate amount estimatorEstimate the amount for the EV you are considering.
Estimated Charge Ahead amount$7,500
For a new eligible battery electric vehicle.
The exact vehicle must be on DEQ’s eligible list and meet the base-MSRP and vehicle requirements. This does not reserve funding or guarantee approval.
Matched to current inventory
Shop Butler EVs on DEQ’s model-year list.
We show only current Ford listings whose model year and powertrain matched DEQ’s table when reviewed Aug. 23, 2026. DEQ still decides based on the exact vehicle, applicant, transaction date, and available funding.
New plug-in hybrid
Butler Ford
2025 Ford Escape
PHEV
Butler price$39,359
Potential rebate−$5,000
Price after estimated rebate$34,359Planning comparison before taxes, title, registration, fees, and any other applicable amounts.
New battery EV
Butler Ford
2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Select
Butler price$45,892
Potential rebate−$7,500
Price after estimated rebate$38,392Planning comparison before taxes, title, registration, fees, and any other applicable amounts.
New battery EV
Butler Ford
2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Premium
Butler price$52,792
Potential rebate−$7,500
Price after estimated rebate$45,292Planning comparison before taxes, title, registration, fees, and any other applicable amounts.
New battery EV
Butler Ford
2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Premium
Butler price$57,429
Potential rebate−$7,500
Price after estimated rebate$49,929Planning comparison before taxes, title, registration, fees, and any other applicable amounts.
Why some EVs are not shown
An electric badge alone is not enough. Model year, powertrain, base MSRP, range, title history, and other DEQ rules matter. We leave uncertain vehicles out of this section.
Check the full state vehicle listThe ownership math
The rebate lowers the purchase cost. An EV may lower driving costs, too.
Battery EVs eliminate gasoline and several routine engine services. Your actual savings depend on electricity rates, mileage, charging habits, insurance, and the vehicle you choose.
Less routine maintenance
A battery EV has no engine oil, spark plugs, or conventional multi-speed transmission service. Regenerative braking can also reduce brake wear.
Lower energy cost potential
Charging at home—especially during lower-cost hours—can cost less per mile than gasoline. Your utility rate and driving pattern decide the real number.
No tailpipe emissions
Battery EVs produce no tailpipe pollution. Oregon reports transportation was 35% of statewide greenhouse-gas emissions in 2023.
Quiet, immediate response
Electric motors deliver smooth acceleration without gear changes. A plug-in hybrid keeps a gas engine for longer trips after electric range is used.
68–98%
lower life-cycle emissions for a light-duty EV than a traditional gasoline car, according to the State of Oregon’s Go Electric Oregon guidance.
Use your own numbers
Compare annual gasoline and electricity costs.
Enter your utility rate, gasoline price, annual miles, and vehicle efficiency. This calculator compares energy costs only.
What changes the result
Public charging, seasonal efficiency, towing, climate use, utility plans, and gasoline prices can all move the estimate.
Gasoline energy cost$1,714/yr
Electric energy cost$525/yr
Estimated annual energy savings$1,189
Energy-only estimate. It excludes financing, insurance, maintenance, taxes, fees, charging equipment, demand charges, and public-charging premiums.
Do this in order
Prequalify first. Then buy during the open window.
The date of the purchase or lease is decisive. A vehicle bought while the program is suspended cannot be made eligible later.
- 01
Apply for Charge Ahead prequalification
DEQ can verify income through a recent Oregon tax transcript or proof of current enrollment in an approved public-assistance program.
Open the official application - 02
Choose a vehicle on DEQ’s eligible list
Confirm the exact model year and vehicle type. New and used vehicles must have a base MSRP under $50,000 and meet the other published vehicle rules.
View the state vehicle list - 03
Purchase or lease Aug. 25–Nov. 4, 2026
Use a certified dealer or qualifying manufacturer. Butler Ford and Acura appear on DEQ’s participating-dealer list for new and used Ford and Acura vehicles.
Verify participating dealers - 04
Use the voucher or apply within six months
At a participating dealer, a prequalification voucher can be applied at the point of sale. Otherwise, submit the post-purchase application within six months.
Visit the rebate portal
Eligibility checklist
Check the rules before you count the rebate.
Every item must apply. Oregon DEQ still makes the final determination.
- ✓Oregon resident with valid identification
- ✓Household adjusted gross income below 400% of the federal poverty guideline
- ✓Eligible new or used battery EV or plug-in hybrid with base MSRP under $50,000
- ✓Purchased or leased from a certified dealer or qualifying manufacturer—not a private party
- ✓Purchased or leased during the open program period
- ✓Registered in Oregon and kept registered for at least 24 months
- ✓No more than one prior Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate; individuals have a lifetime limit of two
- ✓Vehicle is operable, can reach 55 mph, and has no totaled or salvage history
- ✓Battery EV has at least 75 miles of electric range, or PHEV has at least 10 miles and remains within its 15-year/150,000-mile emissions warranty for the required ownership period
- ✓Vehicle was not previously owned or leased by the applicant or a household member
Talk with Butler
Want help matching the rebate to a vehicle?
Tell us whether you are checking income, comparing EV types, or ready to use a voucher. We can narrow the current Butler options and explain the dealership step. Oregon DEQ alone decides eligibility.
- We will not ask for tax returns or benefit documents
- No purchase is required
- Vehicle and funding availability can change
Straight answers
Oregon Charge Ahead FAQs
Reviewed against Oregon DEQ program pages and the 2026 adopted rules on Aug. 23, 2026.
How much is the Oregon Charge Ahead Rebate in 2026?
For the 2026 open period, Oregon DEQ lists $7,500 for a new eligible battery EV, $5,000 for a new eligible plug-in hybrid, up to $4,000 for a used eligible battery EV, and up to $2,500 for a used eligible plug-in hybrid. Used-vehicle amounts can be limited by the vehicle price.
What income qualifies for the Charge Ahead Rebate?
An individual applicant must live in a household with adjusted gross annual household income below 400% of the federal poverty guideline for the household size. Oregon DEQ verifies income or qualifying public-assistance enrollment.
Can I combine Charge Ahead with Oregon’s Standard Rebate?
No. Oregon DEQ states that applicants may receive either the Standard Rebate or the Charge Ahead Rebate, not both for the same purchase or lease.
Can I buy a used EV from a private seller?
No. The vehicle must be purchased or leased from a certified vehicle dealer or qualifying original equipment manufacturer. Person-to-person sales are not eligible.
Can the rebate come off the price at the dealership?
Individuals with a Charge Ahead Prequalification Voucher may use it at a participating dealership. The participating dealer can submit the application and deduct the rebate from the purchase or lease price. Without that voucher, the applicant generally applies after purchase within six months.
Check the source
Program facts from Oregon DEQ.
Funding, vehicle eligibility, and program rules can change. The state pages below are the final reference.
- Eligibility and application requirementsOregon DEQ ↗
- 2026 rebate amounts and processOregon DEQ ↗
- Charge Ahead income eligibilityOregon DEQ ↗
- Current eligible vehicle listOregon DEQ ↗
- Available rebate fundingOregon DEQ ↗
- 2023 Oregon transportation emissionsOregon DEQ ↗
- EV ownership and life-cycle emissions benefitsGo Electric Oregon ↗
- 2026 federal poverty guidelines used for the calculatorU.S. HHS ↗
Butler Ford Acura is not Oregon DEQ and cannot determine or guarantee rebate eligibility, payment, timing, or funding. Estimates on this page are educational planning tools, not offers or state determinations.