Should buyers of a $70,000 Tesla get a rebate? It's a question one California lawmaker is asking, but is it for the right reasons? California state Sen. Ted Gaines , R-Roseville, has proposed eliminating the $2,500 rebate on electric cars that cost more than $40,000. This would eliminate the rebate for Tesla buyers while preserving it for automakers like Toyota and Nissan, which make electric vehicles for less than the $40,000 price point.