If you’re an electric vehicle enthusiast, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is anything but. The legislation, signed by the president last weekend, cuts all sorts of US government support for emission-light vehicles. The whole thing creates a measure of uncertainty for an American auto industry that’s already struggling to stay afloat during a sea change.
Still, nearly one in four US vehicle shoppers say they’re still “very likely” to consider buying an EV, and 35 percent say they’re “somewhat likely,” according to a May survey by JD Power—figures unchanged since last year. On those EV-curious folks’ behalf, WIRED asked experts for their tips for navigating this weird time in cars.
Go Electric … Soon? Now?
First things first: The new bill nixed the electric vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500, bringing to an end years of federal support for EVs. This program was supposed to last until 2032 but is now set to expire on September 30. This extra oomph from the feds helped some of the “cheapest” electrics—like the $43,000 Tesla Model 3, the $37,000 Chevy Equinox EV, and the $61,000 Hyundai Ioniq 9—feel more accessible to people with smaller (but not small) budgets.
Before the end of September, some new electric and plug-in hybrids will still be eligible for the $7,500 tax credit. Used EVs also get a $4,000 credit. “If you’re in a market for an EV now, you should go buy it,” says Joseph Yoon, a consumer insights analyst at Edmunds.
A few things to keep in mind, though. The first is that not all cars or all buyers are eligible for the tax credits. A full list of eligible vehicles is here. (Vehicle eligibility depends on several factors, including the manufacturer’s price, where the car was assembled, and where its battery components come from). Buyers, meanwhile, can’t make above $300,000 a year if they’re married and file jointly, above $225,000 if they’re a head of household, and above $150,000 for everyone else.
Plus, in a twist, it’s possible US buyers will see some good electric showroom deals even after the tax window closes. To understand why, it’s worth taking a look at what automakers did after Trump dramatically increased vehicle and vehicle parts tariffs this spring (another factor that adds to today’s vehicle chaos.) Understanding that they were under the limelight, many manufacturers actually slashed car prices. Both Ford and Stellantis offered “employee pricing” for all buyers; Nissan reduced prices on some of its most popular models.
Now, because Republicans have made so much noise about EVs, automakers are going “to see a flood of interest,” predicts Nick Nigro, the founder of Atlas Public Policy, a strategy and research firm. In the next few months, that could lead to “more aggressive pricing,” he says. So it might make sense to wait a few weeks to drive that EV off the lot too.
Think About EV Charging
The bill also put on the chopping block a tax credit to help install at-home electric vehicle charging in the US. The good news is that buyers will have a bit more time to take advantage of this one: It will disappear in June 2026. The credit is only available to people who live in low-income or non-urban places (check if you qualify here), and it covers 30 percent of the installation cost, up to $1,000.
Subtle Slashing
It’s also worth understanding how the new bill affects the entire US EV ecosystem. The legislation didn’t kill Biden-era tax credits for manufacturers, as some had feared. These have brought down prices for automakers, battery builders, and critical mineral miners and processors amidst the manufacturing, engineering, and, above all, cost challenges that come along with going electric.
That’s good news for EVs. But the bill does make some changes to the manufacturing credit program that ramp up requirements for domestically manufactured components, which will likely make it harder for some in the EV supply chain to qualify, says Kathy Harris, who directs the clean vehicles program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It’s going to be a challenge to continue to move forward,” she says.
