State guide
Tennessee
TN4 / 10AdoptionTennessee has no state EV purchase rebate. TVA partner utilities offer DCFC rebates up to $150,000 per station for corridor gap filling. Local utility rebates for residential Level 2 chargers are modest ($50). Nashville and Chattanooga are Tennessee's main EV markets.
Last updated September 2026
EV Charging Snapshot
Developing- EV Adoption Rate
- 4.0%
- Public Chargers
- 3,088
- Top Incentive
- TVA Partner DCFC Corridor Grant, up to $150,000 per station
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EV adoption snapshot
Public chargers per 1,000 EVs
20.4
Lower ratio = more demand per existing charger
Incentives and rebates
Amounts shift as funding rounds open and close. Confirm the live program page before you apply.
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 ↗ |
| EPB (Chattanooga) Level 2 Charger Rebate | $50 bill credit | EPB residential customers in the Chattanooga service area who install a qualifying Level 2 EV charger. EPB also offers a Night Shift residential TOU rate plan with a lower off-peak rate for overnight EV charging. | Learn more ↗ |
| Middle Tennessee Electric EV Ready Rebate | $50 bill credit | Middle Tennessee Electric residential customers who install a qualifying Level 2 EV charger at home. | Learn more ↗ |
| Program | Amount | Who qualifies | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| TVA Partner DCFC Corridor Grant (Fast Charge TN Network) | Up to $150,000 per DC fast charger (150 kW or greater) | TVA Local Power Companies and their site host partners installing publicly accessible DC fast chargers (two to four ports per site) in corridor gap locations along prioritized Tennessee routes. | Learn more ↗ |
| TDEC Fast Charge TN Network Grant (VW Settlement, Round 2) | $2.7 million awarded across Round 2 (22 charging units at 8 locations); original solicitation pool was $2.8 million | Local power companies, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and government entities (including local governments and public higher education institutions) based in Tennessee, deploying public DC fast charging at least every 50 miles along prioritized corridors. Round 2 solicitation released July 2025; Round 2 awards announced July 2026 to PowerUp America, Shorepower Technologies, Town of Thompson's Station, and Universal EV; future rounds expected. | Learn more ↗ |
| Federal EV Charger Tax Credit (30C) - Commercial | Ended 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 ↗ |
| NEVI Formula Program (Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan) | Up to 80% of project costs | DC fast charging deployment along Tennessee's designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (I-40, I-75, I-65, I-24, I-81). The FY 2026 TEVI Plan was approved by FHWA in September 2025; Tennessee was awarded approximately $88 million across the five-year NEVI program. | Learn more ↗ |
Time-of-use rates
Peak windows and prices are set by each utility and change at rate cases.
- Availability
- rare
- Summary
- Tennessee has no investor-owned electric utility. TVA generates and transmits power and roughly 153 local power companies (LPCs) distribute it under retail rates each LPC sets. Most LPCs use flat residential rates; Nashville Electric Service has run a residential TOU pilot, but EV-specific TOU is not broadly available across the state.
- Source
- SourceVerified Sep 2026
Net metering and solar export
Matters if you pair rooftop solar with home charging.
- Status
- none
- Summary
- Tennessee has no statewide net metering policy. TVA generates and transmits power; roughly 153 local power companies distribute electricity at retail and set their own rates. The voluntary TVA Green Power Providers program closed to new applicants in 2019, after which TVA has supported customer-sited distributed generation through pilots such as the Distributed Solar Solutions program and the Flexibility Research Project, which compensate exports at TVA's avoided cost rather than the retail rate. Participation by individual local power companies remains optional.
- Source
- SourceVerified Jun 2026
Right to charge
Whether an HOA or landlord can block a home charger install.
- What it does
- Tennessee 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
Registration and EV fees
The annual surcharge that replaces gas-tax revenue.
| Vehicle type | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Battery electric (EV) | $200/year |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | $100/year |
Utilities serving Tennessee
Your EV rate, rebates, and make-ready programs depend on who serves your address.
Utility coverage for Tennessee is being expanded. Major utility pages will appear here as they ship.
Public charging network
Tesla Supercharger, ChargePoint, and Blink are active. Nashville and Memphis have the highest charger density. I-40 (the primary east-west corridor) is well-covered. I-65 (Nashville to Alabama) and I-75 (Chattanooga to Georgia) are NEVI targets. Rural Tennessee has limited coverage between major cities.
| Network | Stations |
|---|---|
| Tesla (incl. Destination) | 113 |
| Electrify America | 16 |
| EVgo | 10 |
| ChargePoint | 608 |
| Other networks | 384 |
| DC fast ports | 1,015 |
| Level 2 public ports | 2,095 |
Source: NREL Alternative Fuels Data Center, as of Aug 2026.
Top cities for public charging
- 1Nashville348 stations
- 2Chattanooga72 stations
- 3Memphis72 stations
- 4Knoxville69 stations
- 5Brentwood35 stations
Regulatory environment
Tennessee has no ZEV mandate and no state EV purchase rebate. The state has generally resisted California-aligned EV policy. Tennessee is home to significant automotive manufacturing (VW in Chattanooga, GM's Spring Hill plant, Nissan in Smyrna, and Ford's Stanton plant), although Ford scrapped its electric pickup plans for the site in December 2025, renaming it the Tennessee Truck Plant and targeting 2029 for gas-powered truck production instead. TDOT administers NEVI corridor funds through the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (TEVI) Plan, which was approved by FHWA for FY 2026 in September 2025. TVA's regional electricity distribution model makes it the dominant force in Tennessee's commercial EV charging infrastructure investment, with TDEC and TVA jointly running the Fast Charge TN Network. In January 2026, Tennessee legislators introduced a bill that would impose a $0.03 per kWh tax on public DC fast chargers of 20 kW or larger; residential chargers would be exempt.
Sources
- EIA Form 861Retrieved May 2026
- NREL Alternative Fuels Data CenterRetrieved May 2026
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