New Bill Would Bring Back U.S. EV Tax Credit, Doubled to $15K

The federal EV tax credit could be coming back to the U.S., and at twice its old value. More than 160 House Democrats are backing a new bill that would bring back the credit for new and used EVs and make it permanent (via @SawyerMerritt).

Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) introduced the 21st Century Vehicle Choice Act on October 22, just over a year after the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ended under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

What the Bill Would Do

According to Landsman’s press release, the bill would double the new EV credit from $7,500 to $15,000 and the used EV credit from $4,000 to up to $8,000. It would also raise the credit for EV charging equipment from 30% to 50% of eligible costs.

The bill keeps the same structure the credit had under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, where the new EV credit was split into two halves tied to battery components and critical mineral sourcing. Each half would double, so only vehicles meeting both requirements would get the full $15,000.

Income limits for the new EV credit would drop to $225,000 for married couples filing jointly, $169,000 for heads of household, and $112,500 for single filers. You can read the full text of the bill for every detail.

“We have to make life more affordable and give folks more choices. Our bill would make electric vehicles more accessible and help families save money on gas,” Landsman said. Coltura, a group backing the bill, said the highest-mileage drivers “could save over $4,000 a year by switching to an EV.”

What It Could Mean for EV Sales

When the old credit was set to expire, buyers rushed to lock it in, pushing U.S. EV sales to a record in the third quarter of 2025. A permanent $15,000 credit would give Americans a strong reason to go electric for their next vehicle. That would help EV-only brands like Tesla and Rivian, and it could also pull legacy automakers like Ford and GM, which have slowed their EV plans, back toward building affordable electric models.

Don’t Count On It Yet

The bill has only been referred to House committees, and it would still need to pass both chambers and be signed into law by the President. Landsman introduced a nearly identical bill in October 2024, and it never made it out of committee.

Critics of EV credits argue the government shouldn’t choose sides in the powertrain wars, that taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize wealthier buyers of high-end EVs, and that the market has grown enough to compete on its own, while the Trump administration called the credits wasteful spending. Supporters argue the credits make EVs affordable for more families and lower fuel costs.

For now, there’s no federal EV credit to claim, and that’s unlikely to change unless Landsman’s bill gains support beyond House Democrats.