State guide
Tennessee
TN4 / 10AdoptionTennessee has no state EV purchase rebate. TVA and TDEC fund DC fast chargers through the Fast Charge TN Network 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 October 2026
EV Charging Snapshot
Developing- EV Adoption Rate
- 4.0%
- Public Chargers
- 3,145
- Top Incentive
- TVA and TDEC Fast Charge TN Network DC fast charger grants
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EV adoption snapshot
Public chargers per 1,000 EVs
20.3
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) | Per-charger grant; amount set in each solicitation (confirm with TDEC or your local power company) | TVA Local Power Companies and their site host partners installing publicly accessible DC fast chargers (two to four chargers 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 8, 2026 to PowerUp America, Shorepower Technologies, Town of Thompson's Station, and Universal EV; TDEC opened a further solicitation in September 2026. | 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 local power companies (LPCs) distribute it under retail rates each LPC sets. Most LPCs use flat residential rates, though EPB in Chattanooga offers a Night Shift overnight rate plan. EV-specific TOU is not broadly available across the state.
- Source
- SourceVerified Oct 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; local power companies distribute electricity at retail and set their own rates. TVA's voluntary Green Power Providers program closed to new applicants at the end of 2019. Participation in any TVA-supported distributed generation offering by individual local power companies is optional.
- Source
- SourceVerified Oct 2026
Right to charge
Whether an HOA or landlord can block a home charger install.
- Statute
- Public Chapter 914 of 2026 (HB 1875 / SB 1787), adding sections to Tenn. Code Ann. Title 66, Chapter 27, Part 4 (condominiums) and new Part 9 (66-27-901 and 66-27-902, homeowners associations)
- Applies to
- single family hoa, condo
- What it does
- Effective July 1, 2026, Tennessee condominium associations and homeowners associations may not prohibit an owner from installing an EV charging station for personal use on property the owner owns, including the owner's designated parking location, even where it sits in a common element or common area. Associations may set reasonable limits on the number, size, placement, and installation method. The owner must indemnify the association, may be required to carry insurance naming it, and the association takes on no maintenance duty. The law does not cover renters, and it applies to actions taken and declarations entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1, 2026.
- Source
- SourceVerified Oct 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) | 105 |
| Electrify America | 18 |
| EVgo | 11 |
| ChargePoint | 609 |
| Other networks | 382 |
| DC fast ports | 1,058 |
| Level 2 public ports | 2,060 |
Source: NREL Alternative Fuels Data Center, as of Oct 2026.
Top cities for public charging
- 1Nashville346 stations
- 2Knoxville73 stations
- 3Chattanooga72 stations
- 4Memphis70 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 (SB 1481 / HB 1680) that would impose a $0.03 per kWh tax on public DC fast chargers of 20 kW or larger; residential chargers would be exempt. As of October 2026 the bill has not passed and its last recorded action was a February 2026 committee referral.
Sources
- EIA Form 861Retrieved Oct 2026
- NREL Alternative Fuels Data CenterRetrieved Oct 2026
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