I reread the text of HB2017 that originally established the program, and indeed PHEVs were not eligible for the Charge Ahead portion under the original statutes.
SECTION 148.
As used in sections 148 to 152 of this 2017 Act:
(1) “
Light-duty zero-emission vehicle” means a motor vehicle that:
(a) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less;
(b) Is capable of attaining a speed of 55 miles per hour or more; and
(c) Is powered:
(A) Primarily by an electric battery and may or may not use a flywheel energy storage device or a capacitor that also stores energy to assist in vehicle operation.
(B) By polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells or proton exchange membrane fuel cells that use hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity.
(C) Primarily by a zero-emission energy storage device that provides enough power for the vehicle to travel 75 miles or more using only electricity and may or may not use a backup alternative power unit that does not operate until the energy storage device is fully depleted.
(4) “
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle” means a hybrid electric motor vehicle that:
(a) Has zero evaporative emissions from its fuel system;
(b) Has an onboard electrical energy storage device with useful capacity of 10 or more miles of urban dynamometer driving schedule range, as described by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, on electricity alone;
(c) Is equipped with an onboard charger;
(d) Is rechargeable from an external connection to an off-board electrical source;
(e) Meets the super ultra-low emission vehicle standards for exhaust emissions, as defined by the Environmental Quality Commission by rule;
(f) Has a warranty of at least 15 years and 150,000 miles on emission control components; and
(g) Is capable of attaining a speed of 55 miles per hour or more.
SECTION 150.
(1) As used in this section:
(b) “Charge ahead rebate” means a rebate for the purchase of a new or used light-duty zero-emission vehicle issued through the Charge Ahead Oregon Program established under this section.
When you bought your Clarity PHEV, it was not eligible for the Charge Ahead rebate. The rule changes did not change the required date of purchase for a PHEV to be eligible, but instead made them eligible for purchases going forward (they elected not to make the rule changes retroactive to prior purchases).
Rules were adopted on 9/27/2019 expanding the program and adding PHEVs purchased/leased on or after 9/29/2019
I was mistaken in my assertion that new PHEVs always qualified.