Alabama Power has announced that it will now be offering incentives for its residential customers if they own or plan on owning an electric vehicle. The new incentives are meant to make charging an electric vehicle at home less costly.

“These incentives are one way we are helping customers to innovate their lifestyle and achieve long-term energy savings,” said Tony Smoke, senior vice president of Marketing and Economic Development. “As technology advances and the needs of our customers evolve, we are focused on providing new ways to assist them.

“At Alabama Power, we want to help innovate our state while boosting energy efficiency. It is our hope that the incentives we’re offering help our customers take the next step in adopting a new technology.”

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said in a statement that the Alabama auto industry is moving forward with electric vehicle production.

“Alabama’s auto sector is poised for a pivotal year in 2023, as our automakers respond to major industry challenges, embrace new technologies and continue to turn out high-quality vehicles that are in demand around the world,” Canfield said.

“Hyundai’s Alabama plant recently began assembling its first all-electric SUV, the electrified Genesis GV70, following the production launches of EQS and EQE luxury sport utilities at the Mercedes-Benz facility,” Canfield continued. “Meanwhile, Honda’s plant is planning updates for some of its Alabama-made models, and the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing factory is proceeding with its hiring plans.”

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today opened applications for a new multi-billion-dollar program to fund electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in communities across the country and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. This is a key step towards the President’s goals of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging stations and reducing national greenhouse gas emissions by 50–52% by 2030.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide $2.5 billion over five years to a wide range of applicants, including cities, counties, local governments, and Tribes. This round of funding makes up to $700 million from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 funding available to strategically deploy EV charging and other alternative vehicle-fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs).

Mercedes-Benz will soon have three fully electric SUVs for sale in the U.S., including the smaller EQB and larger EQS SUV models already on sale. On Wednesday, it released prices for the middle model, the 2023 Mercedes EQE SUV.

The EQE SUV has all the makings of a made-in-America EV. It’s due to be built in Alabama, with its 108-kwh battery pack to be supplied from a nearby factory. At $79,050 including destination, it just squeaks in under the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit max of $80,000 for SUVs.