Electric Vehicles
Tesla Will Be The First Automaker To Lose the Federal Tax Credit For Electric Cars. Congratulations Tesla on selling more EVs than any other company! Tesla delivered its 200,000th vehicle this month, which unfortunately means a phase-out of the federal tax credit is underway. Tesla customers who take delivery before January 1, 2019, will receive the full $7,500 credit. Customers who take delivery between January 1 and June 30, 2019, will be eligible for half that amount.
Automaker Chevrolet is also very close to reaching the 200K vehicle mark which means it too will begin the phase-out process of the federal tax credit. In last week’s Weekly News Roundup we shared GMs plans to ramp up production of their Bolt EV. Learn more about the car as Zachary Shahan of Clean Technica discusses acceleration, handling, and interior of three popular EVs in his article: BMW i3 vs Chevy Bolt vs Nissan LEAF (Comparison Review).
Infrastructure
A report by Environment Florida predicts the number of electric cars in Tampa, FL is on the rise and that current infrastructure will need a 400% increase to match that demand. “According to renewable energy experts, electric cars are revolutionizing the market – meaning local infrastructure needs to adapt quickly.” SACE’s Florida Director, Susan Glickman, weighs in, here.
The rapid growth of infrastructure is a trend across the country. The Department of Energy released findings that EVs Could Drive a 38% Rise In US Electricity Demand and electric vehicles are the best opportunity for utilities to grow demand in the next three decades.
Policy
One funding source for installing necessary electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) is through Volkswagen (VW) Settlement funds. On July 19, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) released Tennessee’s Proposed Beneficiary Mitigation Plan for the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. We applaud Tennessee’s proposed plan. TDEC has chosen to allocate the maximum amount allowed by the agreement or 15% of the state’s $45.7 million for EVSE.
Public opinion is shifting about EVs in Great Britain. The article, Half of Young People Want Electric Cars, Study Says, outlines how despite persistent (and incorrect) assumptions about EVs, 50% of youth in the UK want to drive electric!
Event
Check out this article originally printed in the Daily Herald: Electric Car Owners Promote the Benefits. A North Carolina couple share their 2018 Tesla Model 3 ownership experience and will display their car at the upcoming Alternative Energy Car Show in Roanoke Springs on July 21.