California quietly launches $10M car repair freebies — only for EV drivers

The state of California will pick up the tab for personal car repairs as part of an under-the-radar program — but only if you own an EV.

The California Air Resources Board has quietly launched a $10 million program that pays for battery repairs up to $7,500 for electric vehicles — or, if the battery can’t be salvaged, up to $10,000 if you choose to purchase or lease a new car.

Called the Zero-Emission Assurance Project, the plan launched statewide on March 30.

Anyone who has “purchased and continuously owned a used zero-emission vehicle” through two state funding assistance programs — CARB Financing Assistance or Clean Cars 4 All —  is eligible, according to a state website.

The program covers up to $7,500 in repairs for failed battery or fuel cell components not covered by a warranty. If the battery can’t be salvaged, the state will subsidize the purchase of a new EV at up to $10,000.

The freebies are the result of Assembly Bill 193, passed by former assemblymember and current state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, representing Riverside, and signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.

The $10 million program was funded through Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2022 budget — a trailer bill tucked inside a massive $2.5 billion spending plan to boost zero-emission vehicles.

California has pushed aggressively to expand electric vehicles to help meet a controversial mandate that 100% of vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission by 2035. Lawmakers’ main tactics to drive consumer sales are hefty subsidies — like a $7,500 Clean Vehicle Rebate Program that ended in 2023 — and Republicans have slammed the idea of taxpayer subsidies for private car purchases.

“California is beyond parody. They actively work to perpetuate poverty and energy shortages,” wrote Jason Hayes of the America First Policy Institute on X.

“Then, when they get poverty and energy shortages, they create programs to steal money from average citizens and bail out the people who bought into their lies.”

After President Donald Trump killed federal EV incentives and blocked California’s zero-emission mandate last year, Newsom announced a $200 million rebate plan to boost California’s lagging EV market, though specifics are still forthcoming.

House Republicans have launched an investigation into California’s zero-emissions mandate, subpoenaing California Air Resources Board Chair Lauren Sanchez this week for documents regarding the mandate.

“Forcing Americans to buy unreliable, and costly, EVs would eliminate consumer choice, strain our electric grid, raise costs, and increase our reliance on entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party,” House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) exclusively told The Post.

An Air Resources Board spokesperson indicated the board would cooperate with the probe.

“California’s longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act and the actions CARB has taken to protect public health and welfare in the state,” said a spokersperson.

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