(1)(a) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of new passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles, which (i) are exclusively powered by a clean alternative fuel or (ii) use at least one method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an external source of electricity and are capable of traveling at least thirty miles using only battery power.

(b) Beginning with purchases made or lease agreements signed on or after July 1, 2016, the exemption in this section is only applicable for up to thirty-two thousand dollars of a vehicle's purchase price or the total lease payments made plus the purchase price of the leased vehicle if the original lessee purchases the leased vehicle before the expiration of the exemption as described in RCW 82.08.809(6).

(2) The definitions in RCW 82.08.809 apply to this section.

(3) A taxpayer is not liable for the tax imposed in RCW 82.12.020 on the use, on or after the expiration of the exemption as described in RCW 82.08.809(6), of a passenger car, light duty truck, or medium duty passenger vehicle that is exclusively powered by a clean alternative fuel or uses at least one method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an external source of electricity and is capable of traveling at least thirty miles using only battery power, if the taxpayer used such vehicle in this state before the expiration of the exemption as described in RCW 82.08.809(6), and the use was exempt under this section from the tax imposed in RCW 82.12.020.

(4)(a) For vehicles identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section purchased on or after July 1, 2016, and before the expiration of the exemption as described in RCW 82.08.809(6), or for leased vehicles identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section for which the lease agreement was signed on or after July 1, 2016, and before the expiration of the exemption as described in RCW 82.08.809(6), a vehicle is not exempt from use tax as described under subsection (1)(b) of this section if, at the time the tax is imposed for purchased vehicles or at the inception of the lease for leased vehicles, the lowest manufacturer's suggested retail price, as determined in rule by the department of licensing pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, for the base model is more than forty-two thousand five hundred dollars.

(b) For vehicles identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section purchased on or after July 15, 2015, and before July 1, 2016, or for leased vehicles identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section for which the lease agreement was signed on or after July 15, 2015, and before July 1, 2016, a vehicle is not exempt from use tax if the fair market value of the vehicle exceeds thirty-five thousand dollars at the time the tax is imposed for purchased vehicles, or at the inception of the lease for leased vehicles.

(c) For leased vehicles for which the lease agreement was signed before July 1, 2015, lease payments are exempt from use tax as described under subsection (1)(a) of this section regardless of the vehicle's fair market value at the inception of the lease.

(5) On the last day of January, April, July, and October of each year, the state treasurer, based upon information provided by the department, must transfer from the multimodal transportation account to the general fund a sum equal to the dollar amount that would otherwise have been deposited into the general fund during the prior calendar quarter but for the exemption provided in this section. Information provided by the department to the state treasurer must be based on the best available data. For purposes of this section, the first transfer for the calendar quarter after July 15, 2015, must be calculated assuming only those revenues that should have been deposited into the general fund beginning July 1, 2015.

(6)(a) The exemption provided under this section does not apply to the use of new passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles, or lease payments due on such vehicles, if the date of sale of the vehicle from the seller to the buyer occurred or the lease agreement was signed after the expiration of the exemption as provided in RCW 82.08.809(6).

(b) All leased vehicles that qualified for the exemption before the expiration of the exemption must continue to receive the exemption as described under subsection (1)(b) of this section on lease payments due through the remainder of the lease.

(c) Nothing in this subsection (6) may be construed to allow an exemption under this section for the purchase of a qualifying vehicle by the original lessee of the vehicle after the expiration of the exemption.

Effective date—Tax preference performance statement—2016 sp.s. c 32: See notes following RCW 82.08.809.

Effective date—2015 3rd sp.s. c 44: See note following RCW 46.68.395.

Tax preference performance statement—2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 ss 408 and 409: See note following RCW 82.08.809.

Effective date—2005 c 296: See note following RCW 82.08.809.