Waterbury LEAP: Driving electric is getting easier and more affordable
August 21, 2020 | By Duncan McDougall
Waterbury LEAP hosted an Electric Vehicle Fest in June 2019 with 16 electric vehicles on display at Crossett Brook Middle School. Photo courtesy Waterbury LEAP.
There are several reasons there are so many electric vehicles (EVs) on Vermont roads these days: Traveling on electricity is more affordable than gasoline; EVs have lower greenhouse gas emissions; purchase incentives are available to maximize savings.
And EVs are just fun to drive.
Below is a condensed interview with Dave Roberts, coordinator of Drive Electric Vermont, a statewide coalition of policy makers, industry leaders and individuals to promote electric transportation.
Q: What types of electric vehicles are there?
A: There are two primary types – all-electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The all-electrics run purely on battery energy. The plug-in hybrids run on battery or gasoline. When you run out of energy in the hybrid, it can switch seamlessly to gasoline. The Drive Electric Vermont coalition’s website has information about different types and models of electric vehicles, their range, cost, incentives, charging and more.
New all-electric vehicles can go between 100-300 miles on a single charge, depending on the model and conditions, with plug-in hybrids typically traveling 20-50 miles on the battery before switching to gasoline. About 60% of EVs registered in Vermont are plug-in hybrids as many drivers enjoy their flexibility.
Q: How many EVs are there in Vermont?
A: There are more than 3,700 EVs in Vermont and they represent roughly 5% of new passenger car sales. Numbers have grown about 25% over the past year as availability of more affordable, longer-range EVs has increased.
Q: Where can you buy an EV or hybrid?
A: Many Vermont car dealers offer electric vehicles. In the Montpelier area, Cody Chevrolet, 802 Honda, 802 Toyota, Formula Ford and Midstate Dodge-Chrysler offer them. There are many additional dealers in the Burlington area and across the state. There are no Tesla dealers in Vermont, but you can order online.
Q: How do EVs perform on back roads?
A: There are now models with more clearance and/or all-wheel drive, including the Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, and the Tesla Model 3 as well as other more expensive options from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and Volvo. The Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid is expected soon. Many EV drivers have good winter traction even without All-Wheel Drive because the main battery pack is heavy and positioned lower to the ground. In winter, most front wheel drive EV models do fine with winter tires.
Q: Where do you charge an EV?
A: Most people charge at home. It can be as simple as plugging into a standard 120 Volt outlet where you park your car. This is called Level 1 charging. You can get a Level 2 charger that uses the same type of 240V circuit as an electric oven. That will charge much faster. For most EV owners Level 1 or 2 charging at home covers 80 to 90 percent of their travel needs and this is the most convenient and affordable way to do it. There is also DC (Direct Current) Fast Charging on certain vehicles. These options are mostly found in public locations along travel corridors or more urban communities and can provide an 80% charge to most EVs in 30-60 minutes.
Smartphone apps and in-vehicle navigation systems can help find the most convenient charging options. Vermont has over 230 level 2 and DCFC public charging locations across the state. In Waterbury, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Visitor Center and the Waterbury town offices and library each have a Level 2 charging station. The Ben & Jerry’s Factory has Level 2 charging and DC Fast Charge.
Q: What incentives are available?
A: The biggest incentive right now is a federal tax credit for up to $7,500. All-electric vehicles get the full tax credit, while many hybrids get a portion of it. The federal tax credit sunsets as individual automakers reach 200,000 sales in the US. Tesla and General Motors EVs are no longer eligible as a result, but other EV makes remain eligible.
Vermont also offers incentives up to $4,000 for income-qualified buyers. Vermont electric utilities are also offering customer incentives up to $2,500 and Level 2 charging equipment deals. Combining these incentives with manufacturer discounts can reduce the up-front costs of an EV purchase by more than $15,000 in some case. More details on incentive offerings are available here.
Q: Is it better to lease or purchase?
A: Leasing EVs is a popular option as the federal tax credit can get rolled into a lease deal and drop the monthly payment cost significantly. As an example, you can lease a Nissan LEAF for under $200 per month because of the tax credit. Every electric vehicle manufacturer has an option to lease at this point. Over the long-term, if you are planning to own the car for a while, purchasing it outright usually has the lowest cost of ownership.
Q: What are the environmental reasons to drive an electric vehicle?
A: Gasoline powered cars lose most of their energy in the engine’s combustion process. An EV is orders of magnitude more efficient. Even factoring in EV battery manufacturing and electric generation emissions, there are significant greenhouse gas reductions driving an EV in Vermont.
Q: Are there other benefits?
A: If you’re thinking of buying an EV, I encourage you to take a test drive. Electric vehicles are really fun to drive. They are very quiet. The driving experience is greatly improved by the instant torque of electric motors and “filling up” is as easy as plugging in your cell phone at night.
For more information about electric vehicles, visit the Drive Electric Vermont website. The Waterbury LEAP website has more information on green energy and getting involved.
Duncan McDougall is chair of Waterbury LEAP (Local Energy Action Partnership), a nonprofit organization that’s also Waterbury’s volunteer energy committee.