The watchword for EV (electric vehicle) subsidies in Tochigi Prefecture is "can it serve as a power source in a disaster?" The prefectural subsidy (¥200,000 for EVs, ¥100,000 for PHVs) is limited to businesses, and requires a vehicle with power-supply capability plus registration as a prefectural disaster cooperation vehicle. For individuals, Nasushiobara City's ¥150,000 was the flagship, but the vehicle portion has run out of budget (only V2H continues), and for Utsunomiya City no mention of BEVs can be confirmed for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year. For an individual buying the vehicle itself, the national CEV subsidy (up to ¥1.3 million for an EV) is the centerpiece. Here is where Tochigi stands now.
Think of Tochigi's EV subsidies as "two tiers"
CEV subsidy (the lead role in purchases)
A national subsidy usable by individuals and corporations alike. Up to ¥1.3 million for an EV in the 2026 fiscal year, and so on — the largest in amount.
Nasushiobara's vehicle portion has ended; check with Utsunomiya
Nasushiobara City's ¥150,000 has run out of budget for vehicles (only V2H continues). For Utsunomiya City, no mention of BEVs can be confirmed for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year.
The prefecture is business-only, disaster-power-source type
The prefecture's ¥200,000 for EVs and ¥100,000 for PHVs targets small and medium enterprises and the like; ordinary individuals are not eligible. Power-supply capability plus disaster cooperation vehicle registration are required.
[National] CEV subsidy for the 2026 fiscal year (the lead role in purchases)
"Up to ¥1.3 million" is a cap. The subsidy amount is decided for each vehicle type by an evaluation of the vehicle's environmental performance and the like. Applications close once the budget runs out, and a subsidized car carries a holding obligation of four years in principle; if you dispose of it within that period, repayment may be required. Check the exact subsidy amount for the car you are buying against the amounts published by the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center.
For the full picture of the CEV subsidy and the situation nationwide, see our roundup of EV subsidies in all 47 prefectures.
[Tochigi Prefecture] The prefectural subsidy is a "disaster power source" program for businesses — individuals are not eligible
Tochigi Prefecture's "Disaster-Time Power Source EV/PHV Introduction Promotion Program" provides fixed subsidies of ¥200,000 for EVs and FCVs and ¥100,000 for PHVs, but eligibility is limited to businesses in the prefecture, such as small and medium enterprises, medical corporations, and blue-return sole proprietors; ordinary individuals are not eligible. The requirements are distinctive too: the vehicle must have power-supply capability, and it must be registered as a prefectural "disaster cooperation vehicle." Applications are accepted until March 31, 2027.
Sole proprietors (blue-return filers) may qualify, so it is worth considering if you are thinking of introducing an EV for business use.
[Municipalities] Nasushiobara's vehicle portion has ended; check with Utsunomiya
| City | Status in the 2026 fiscal year |
|---|---|
| Nasushiobara City | It offered ¥150,000 for EVs and hydrogen vehicles / ¥100,000 for PHEVs (external power-supply capability required), but the vehicle portion has closed as the budget ran out. Only V2H (one third of the cost or ¥100,000, whichever is lower) continues (as of August 2026) |
| Utsunomiya City | In the Reiwa 7 fiscal year there was ¥200,000 for BEVs (external power-supply requirement), but no mention of BEVs can be confirmed on the household subsidy page for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year. Check with the city for the latest |
In Tochigi, both the prefecture and its cities share a disaster-power-source design that makes "external power-supply capability (V2L/V2H support)" a requirement. If you are aiming for a municipal subsidy from next fiscal year onward, choosing a grade with power-supply capability also pays off in terms of application eligibility.
Check the "tax" on EVs too (reductions in automobile tax)
Apart from subsidies, EVs are exempt from the environmental performance levy of the automobile tax (the 2026 fiscal year tax reform has also decided to abolish the levy itself), and the automobile tax (type-based levy) for the following fiscal year is reduced by roughly 75% under the greening special provision. For details, see EV taxes and the 2026 automobile tax reform.
Is a subsidy taxed?
An EV subsidy an individual receives is treated as occasional income. Because there is a special deduction of ¥500,000 per year, it is not taxed if, combined with other occasional income, it stays within ¥500,000 for the year. The national and municipal subsidies combined usually stay within this, but watch the total in a year when you receive several large subsidies. Business use is treated differently, so consult a tax accountant or the like.
What to do today
What to do today
- Check the national CEV subsidy amount for your candidate models in the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center's list (the amount for your car, not "up to ¥1.3 million")
- Search "EV subsidy" on your municipality's official website; because power-supply capability is a common requirement in Tochigi, check your candidate car's power-supply support along with the remaining budget and application status
- Work backward from the delivery date to build your application schedule (check three things: registration date, application deadline, and budget exhaustion)
FAQ
Q. Can an individual use the prefecture's ¥200,000?
A. Ordinary individuals are not eligible. However, blue-return sole proprietors may qualify. A vehicle with power-supply capability and registration as a prefectural disaster cooperation vehicle are required.
Q. Has Utsunomiya City's ¥200,000 for BEVs been discontinued?
A. No mention of BEVs can be confirmed on the page for the Reiwa 8 fiscal year household decarbonization promotion subsidy (nor has an explicit discontinuation been confirmed). The surest way is to check directly with the city before buying.
Q. Is there nothing left to apply for in Nasushiobara City?
A. The vehicle portion has run out of budget, but the subsidy for V2H charge/discharge equipment (one third of the cost or ¥100,000, whichever is lower) continues (as of August 2026).
Q. What is a "disaster cooperation vehicle"?
A. It is a scheme for registering a vehicle to cooperate in supplying power and the like at the prefecture's request in a disaster. It is a requirement of the prefecture's business-oriented subsidy and the core of Tochigi's design philosophy of using EVs as "mobile emergency power sources."
Reference links (sources)
* The subsidy amounts, requirements, and application status are as of August 2026. Programs may end early depending on how the budget is consumed. Always check the latest information on each official website before applying.