EV Charging Help

State guide

Kentucky

KY3 / 10Adoption

Kentucky has no state EV rebate and no ZEV mandate. LG&E and KU offer modest residential charger rebates. NEVI investments are building I-65 and I-64 corridor coverage. Louisville and Lexington are the primary EV markets. Ford's BlueOval SK battery plant in Hardin County is a notable development.

Last updated June 2026

Kentucky EV adoptionAdoption 3 / 10

EV Charging Snapshot

Developing
EV Adoption Rate
3.0%
Public Chargers
1,200
Top Incentive
LG&E / KU Residential EV Charger Rebate, up to $100
Adoption score
3/10

What applies to your address?

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EV adoption snapshot

EVs registered in Kentucky

13,900

2024 data · U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center

01

Incentives and rebates

Amounts shift as funding rounds open and close. Confirm the live program page before you apply.

Residential programs
Residential EV incentive programs in Kentucky
ProgramAmountWho qualifiesApply
LG&E / KU Residential EV Charger RebateUp to $100 for qualifying Level 2 EV charger (verify current availability)LG&E or Kentucky Utilities residential customers installing Level 2 EV chargingLearn more ↗
Federal EV Charger Tax Credit (30C)Ended June 30, 2026 (no longer available)The federal 30C charger credit ended June 30, 2026. It previously covered residential charging equipment placed in service in an eligible census tract; property placed in service after that date cannot claim it.Learn more ↗
Commercial and property-owner programs
Commercial EV incentive programs in Kentucky
ProgramAmountWho qualifiesApply
NEVI Formula ProgramUp to 80% of project costsEV charging along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors in Kentucky (I-65, I-64, I-75)Learn more ↗
Federal 30C Commercial Charger Tax CreditEnded June 30, 2026 (no longer available)The federal 30C charger credit ended June 30, 2026. It previously covered commercial charging equipment placed in service in an eligible census tract; property placed in service after that date cannot claim it.Learn more ↗
02

Time-of-use rates

Peak windows and prices are set by each utility and change at rate cases.

Residential EV time-of-usesome utilities
Availability
some utilities
Summary
LG&E and KU, Kentucky's two largest IOUs, publish optional residential Time-of-Day Energy and Time-of-Day Demand schedules under longstanding PSC-approved tariffs. Duke Energy Kentucky and Kentucky Power offer narrower TOU options; cooperative coverage is variable. Customers should confirm current schedule details directly with their utility.
Source
SourceVerified Jun 2026
03

Net metering and solar export

Matters if you pair rooftop solar with home charging.

Net metering / solar + EVnet billing
Status
net billing
Summary
Kentucky historically required full-retail net metering, but HB 227 (2019) directed the Public Service Commission to set successor compensation rates for new interconnections. The PSC has since approved net metering successor tariffs for the major investor-owned utilities (LG&E, KU, Duke Energy Kentucky, Kentucky Power) that credit residential solar exports below the full retail rate. Specific export-credit rates vary by utility; customers interconnected under prior rules are generally grandfathered.
Source
SourceVerified Jun 2026
04

Right to charge

Whether an HOA or landlord can block a home charger install.

Statutory protectionNo statewide statute
What it does
Kentucky has no right-to-charge statute. HOAs and condominium associations may lawfully restrict or prohibit EV charging station installation, subject only to general architectural-review obligations under the governing documents.
Source
SourceVerified Jun 2026
05

Registration and EV fees

The annual surcharge that replaces gas-tax revenue.

Annual fees
Kentucky EV and PHEV registration fees
Vehicle typeAnnual fee
Battery electric (EV)$120/year
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV)$60/year
Kentucky's annual EV ownership fee ($120 BEV, $60 PHEV) was enacted by HB 8 (2022) and codified at KRS 138.475, effective January 1, 2024. The statute indexes the fee annually; owners should confirm the current-year amount with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Public EV charging stations are separately subject to a $0.03 per kWh excise tax.
SourceVerified Jun 2026
Utilities

Utilities serving Kentucky

Your EV rate, rebates, and make-ready programs depend on who serves your address.

Utility coverage for Kentucky is being expanded. Major utility pages will appear here as they ship.

Network

Public charging network

Tesla Supercharger, ChargePoint, and Blink are active. Louisville and Lexington have the best coverage. I-65 (Louisville to Nashville) and I-75 (Lexington to Knoxville) are primary NEVI targets. Rural Kentucky has very thin coverage.

Station-network counts for Kentucky will appear here once the next AFDC ingest runs.

Context

Regulatory environment

Kentucky has no ZEV mandate and no state EV programs. The state is a major automotive manufacturing hub (Toyota, Ford's BlueOval SK). Ford's BlueOval SK battery plant in Hardin County represents a major EV supply chain investment in the state that may create future policy tailwinds. KYTC is administering NEVI corridor funds.

Free guide

The Home EV Charging Guide

Everything a homeowner needs to go from curious to charging. Chargers, installation, costs, and the credits that pay for it. No sales pitch.

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The Commercial Charging Playbook

A property owner's guide to deploying EV charging that pays for itself. Planning, utility coordination, funding, and the real business case. No vendor spin.

  • Should your property offer charging?
  • Planning and the deployment process
  • Funding: NEVI, CFI, and state and utility programs
  • ROI and the business case
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