Report: Electrical vehicle use growing, but not fast enoughOct 30 - McClatchy-Tribune Content Agency, LLC - Luther Turmelle New Haven Register, Conn.
A report released this week by three environmental groups says usage of electric vehicles is growing, but not at a fast enough pace to meet goals set forth in a 2013 memorandum of understanding signed by officials in eight states, including Connecticut. "Charging Up," the report by the Conservation Law Foundation, the Sierra Club and Acadia Center, offers recommendations for increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road. Among the nine recommendations made in the report are: --Boosting auto dealership and consumer incentive programs to promote increased sales of electric vehicles. --Increasing the number and the availability of consumer-friendly charging stations for the cars. --Increased use of electric vehicles in municipal and statewide fleets. Jenny Rushlow, a staff attorney for the Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation, said making electric vehicles more accessible and affordable has multiple benefits. "It helps combat climate change by lowering our carbon footprint," Rushlow said in a statement. "It protects communities from the harmful health impacts of increasing air pollution. And it boosts our economy by promoting energy independence and alternatives to costly gasoline and oil." There were 2,957 electric vehicles registered in Connecticut at mid-year. The goal is to have 155,105 electric vehicles operating in Connecticut by 2025. In order to reach that goal, according the report, another 6,656 electric vehicles would have to be in use in Connecticut by the end of 2017. And there would have to be 41,835 electric vehicles operating in the state by 2020. "Connecticut has made tremendous strides over a short period of time and we remain committed to developing the 'triple win' that comes along with increasing our energy independence by reducing fossil fuel consumption, creating new opportunities for growing our green economy and improving public health," said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Transportation. "Connecticut's focus to date has been on creating a sense of 'range confidence' among electric vehicle (EV) owners by building out a charging station infrastructure and encouraging the sale of EVs through a rebate program that puts money back in the pockets of customers and makes the price of these cars more appealing." There are 419 publicly available charging outlets for electric vehicles in Connecticut, Schain said. And in May, state officials announced the launch of a pilot incentive program to increase electric vehicle sales. The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Rebate Program offers cash rebates of up to $3,000 to state residents, businesses and municipalities to purchase or lease up to two electric vehicles. A total of $800,000 was budgeted for the program and Schain said that as of Oct. 20, the state had issued 230 rebates for electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and 146 for hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt. "There is about $270,000 left in the rebate pool and at the current rate, the available funds will last into Janaury," he said. "We're working on securing additional funding to continue the rebate program." Bill Dornbos, director of Acadia Center's Connecticut Office and a senior attorney for the organization, said finding a permanent funding source for the rebate program is critical. Federal tax credits are available for the purchase of electric vehicles, but Dornbos said "point of sale" incentives are especially effective in promoting interest in electric vehicles. "That way, they (electric vehicle purchasers) see the benefit right away," he said. The combination of federal and state incentives can bring the purchase price of a battery-powered electric vehicle into close proximity to that of a gasoline-powered vehicle, Dornbos said. The 2016 Ford Focus Electric has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $29,170, he said. But with Connecticut's $3,000 rebate and a federal tax credit of $7,500, the car has an adjusted price of $18,670, Dornbos said. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the 2016 model for the gasoline-powered Ford Focus is $17,225, he said. Call Luther Turmelle at 203-680-9388. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=37818963 |