Electric Vehicle Charging Tax Credits Will Be Available in Much of Country

The Biden administration on Friday issued guidance that makes much of the country eligible for tax credits intended to offset the cost of installing electric vehicle chargers.

Consumers and businesses can claim the credit for charging equipment installed for public or private use at homes or on business properties. The initiative aims to make it more affordable for Americans to deploy electric vehicle chargers, which will need to be widely available for the United States to meet the Biden administration’s goal of having electric vehicles make up half of new car sales by 2030.

Before Friday’s guidance, it had been unclear which areas could qualify for the tax credit. Eligible chargers were required to be placed in either low-income or non-urban areas, but it was not clear how many locations would fall under the categories.

The Treasury Department opted to make a broad set of locations eligible, covering much of the country outside of major cities. Qualified areas cover roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population, Ashley Schapitl, a Treasury Department spokeswoman, said in a statement.

Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, pointed to growth in electric vehicle sales last year and said the administration expected the new guidance to promote more progress this year.

“Additional clarity around the law’s incentive to build new charging infrastructure in communities that need it most will help drive continued progress in 2024,” Mr. Adeyemo said in a statement.

Individuals and businesses purchasing chargers or other eligible refueling equipment can receive a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of installation.

Proponents of clean energy said the wider availability of tax credits would accelerate installation of chargers across