In FY2026 (Reiwa 8), Shiga Prefecture offers a prefectural subsidy of 100,000 yen for EVs and PHVs (200,000 yen for FCVs). Its requirements, however, are among the strictest in Japan: for EVs and PHVs, installing "solar power generation + V2H" is effectively mandatory. On top of that, the car must be purchased from a dealer within the prefecture and comes with a 4-year disposal restriction. If your home has (or will get) solar + V2H, you can stack the prefectural subsidy on top of the national CEV subsidy; otherwise, the national CEV subsidy is your main pillar. This article walks through how to read the conditions.
Think of Shiga's EV subsidies as a "three-tier" structure
CEV subsidy (the main pillar)
A national subsidy available to individuals and companies alike. In FY2026 it offers up to 1.3 million yen for EVs — the largest amounts of the three tiers.
EV 100,000 yen — but solar + V2H required
The prefecture's next-generation vehicle promotion subsidy pays 100,000 yen for EVs/PHVs and 200,000 yen for FCVs. Strict rules make installing solar + V2H effectively mandatory.
No municipal vehicle subsidies confirmed
No municipal vehicle subsidies for individuals, including in Otsu City, could be confirmed. If you cannot meet the prefecture's requirements, the national CEV subsidy is your pillar.
[National] CEV subsidy FY2026 (the main pillar of a purchase)
"Up to 1.3 million yen" is a cap. The actual amount is set per model based on assessments such as the vehicle's environmental performance. Applications close once the budget runs out, and subsidized vehicles carry a holding obligation of 4 years in principle — disposing of the car within that period may require repayment. Check the exact subsidy amount for your car in the amounts published by the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center.
For the full picture of the CEV subsidy and the situation nationwide, see our guide to EV subsidies in all 47 prefectures.
[Shiga Prefecture] EV/PHV 100,000 yen — the "solar + V2H" set is effectively mandatory
Shiga's "Next-Generation Vehicle Promotion Subsidy" (the contact point for individuals is the Ohmi Environment Preservation Foundation) pays 100,000 yen for EVs/PHVs and 200,000 yen for FCVs (one vehicle, once only). The requirements, however, are strict.
- For EVs/PHVs, installing "solar power generation + V2H" is mandatory (for FCVs, V2H is mandatory) — a design premised on homes that charge with renewable energy and can supply power in a disaster
- Individuals with resident registration in the prefecture (sole proprietors are not eligible)
- A new car first registered between April 1, 2026 and January 31, 2027, purchased or leased from a dealer within the prefecture
- A 4-year disposal restriction applies. Applications run from April 20, 2026 to February 10, 2027 (subject to budget limits)
If you have neither solar nor V2H yet, the equipment investment comes first, so it is realistic to build your financing plan together with housing-side subsidies (national water-heating/insulation programs and municipal equipment subsidies).
[Municipalities] No vehicle subsidies for individuals confirmed
No FY2026 EV vehicle purchase subsidies for individuals could be confirmed in Shiga's municipalities, including Otsu City. For those who cannot meet the prefecture's strict requirements, the national CEV subsidy (up to 1.3 million yen for EVs) and automobile tax reductions are the pillars of support.
Conversely, for households that already have solar + V2H (or will install them, e.g. in a new build), this is an environment where you can stack the national CEV subsidy plus the prefecture's 100,000 yen.
Also check EV "taxes" (automobile tax reductions)
Separately from subsidies, EVs are exempt from the environmental performance levy of the automobile tax (the FY2026 tax reform has also decided to abolish the levy itself), and the following year's automobile tax (type-based levy) is reduced by roughly 75% under the green tax special measure. See details in EV taxes and the 2026 automobile tax reform.
Are subsidies taxable?
EV subsidies received by individuals are treated as occasional income (ichiji shotoku). Because there is a special deduction of 500,000 yen per year, no tax arises if your occasional income, combined with any other occasional income, stays at or below 500,000 yen for the year. National and municipal subsidies combined usually stay within this, but be careful about the total in a year when you receive multiple large subsidies. Business use is treated differently — consult a tax accountant.
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 specific car, not "up to 1.3 million yen")
- Search "EV subsidy" on your municipality's official website; in Shiga, check whether you can meet the solar + V2H requirement, plus the remaining budget and application status
- Work backward from your delivery date to build an application schedule (check three things: registration date, application deadline, and budget exhaustion)
FAQ
Q. Can I get the prefectural EV subsidy if my home has no solar panels?
A. No — for the EV/PHV category, installing solar power generation + V2H is effectively mandatory, so you would not be eligible. The national CEV subsidy (up to 1.3 million yen for EVs) becomes your pillar. If you plan to install solar and V2H, build your financing plan together with the equipment-side subsidies.
Q. Can sole proprietors apply?
A. The individual-facing contact point (Ohmi Environment Preservation Foundation) covers individuals excluding sole proprietors. Businesses should check the business-facing programs run through the Shiga Industrial Support Plaza.
Q. Am I eligible if I buy from a dealer outside the prefecture?
A. Purchase or lease from a dealer within the prefecture is a requirement, so out-of-prefecture purchases are not eligible. Confirm with the dealer before buying.
Q. What is the 4-year disposal restriction?
A. It is a condition that you cannot sell, scrap, or otherwise dispose of the subsidized car for 4 years (doing so requires approval and repayment procedures). The national CEV subsidy also carries a holding obligation of 4 years in principle, so both restrictions apply.
Reference links (sources)
Note: Subsidy amounts, requirements, and application status are as of August 2026. Programs may end early depending on budget consumption. Always check the latest information on each official website before applying.