(The Center Square) – Washington state’s $45 million Electric Vehicle Instant Rebate Program for buying or leasing electric vehicles fell far short of promises to deliver environmental results and help middle-income people buy EVs, concluded a Washington Policy Center policy brief released on Wednesday.

According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the program provided up to $9,000 off a new EV lease for low-income drivers at the point of sale. The state agency claimed this translates into lease payments under $200 a month, well below the average gas-powered automobile payment of more than $700 a month.