Numbers show details of CA EV purchasing trends

The numbers don’t lie – more electric vehicles (EVs) are hitting the California roadways than ever before. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) is experiencing a steady increase in applications as 2012 closes, with nearly 2,000 rebate awards in October alone.

San Juan Capistrano Hosts Successful Electric Vehicle Event

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) kicked off their new workshop tour with a visit to San Juan Capistrano. The weather cleared up so that the San Juan Capistrano Community Center could play host to a workshop presentation, drivers panel and test-drives for some of the CVRP eligible vehicles. Mayor Larry Kramer welcomed the attendees and reiterated the city’s commitment to not only clean transportation but environmental sustainability for the whole region. The presentation focused on the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which incentivizes California residents up to $2,500 for an electric vehicle purchase or three-year lease. Combined with the Federal Tax Credit of up to $7,500 and HOV-lane access, these incentives are helping the adoption of electric vehicles in the region and across the state.

Colin Santulli, CVRP Program Manager, presented on the plug-in electric vehicle ( PEV) basics while April Buldoc, SDG&E Plug-In Electric Vehicle Program Manager, followed with information about PEV impacts to utility bills and the grid; both presentations can be found below. The drivers panel offered a chance for potential adopters to ask questions about PEV ownership to drivers with on the road experience.

Workshop attendees were able to view three Nissan Leafs, two Prius Plug-In Hybrids, a Mitsubishi i-MiEV, a CODA,  a Chevy Volt and a Tesla Model S. Vehicles were available for static display, test drives and ride-alongs, giving attendees a great opportunity to experience electric vehicles up close and in person.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project presentation is available here SJC Workshop Presentation.

Workshop photographs available here.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Palm Springs workshop www.energycenter.org/cvrp-events.

Perfect time to consider a plug-in electric vehicle

The California Air Resources Board and the California Environmental Protection Agency announced in September the awarding of the 10,000th Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) incentive to Natasha Casteel of Meadow Vista, Calif. Mike Ferry, CCSE’s transportation program manager, was among the dignitaries participating in an award ceremony at the Governor’s Summit on Zero Emission Vehicles in Sacramento.

It’s not often you find yourself in a parking lot filled with over 100 plug-in vehicles, but last Sunday at the California Center for Sustainable Energy, visitors caught a glimpse of what the near-future may hold.  Over 150 people came out for San Diego’s National Plug-In Day celebration at CCSE, with San Diego as one of more than 50 cities participating in the nation-wide event sponsored by the Sierra Club, Plug-In America, and the Electric Auto Association.

Visitors came together to celebrate clean vehicles, bringing over 100 vehicles ranging from 12 different make and models. This impressive array of vehicles included 3 Tesla Roadsters, 2 Tesla Model Ss, one Mitsubishi i, 7 Ford Focus Electrics, 2 BMW Active-Es, 2 Honda Fit EVs, one Ford Transit Connect, one Coda Automotive Sedan, 12 Chevy Volts, 3 Smart EDs showcased by car2go, 2 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrids, 4 EV conversions, and over 50 Nissan Leafs.  The strides in manufacturer diversity for electric vehicles have been continually impressive over the past year, with more options than ever before.

CCSE’s parking lot was the main attraction during our second annual  “tailgate without tailpipes.”  Visitors could grab a taco from the fresh taco stand, check out cars, and compare range-extending driving techniques, all while enjoying some sunshine and music.  Four lucky Charging Champion contest winners went home with prizes for the highest EV odometer reading, the newest plug-in vehicle, the oldest plug-in vehicle, and the longest distance driven to reach the event (over 60 miles!).

Inside, presentations were hosted by the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project Program Manager, Colin Santulli, and ECOtality’s San Diego Area Manager Andy Hoskinson, who provided an update about ECOtality’s charging infrastructure.  With about one quarter of all attendees being prospective electric vehicle drivers, workshops offered valuable information about incentives for purchasing an electric vehicle and the state of public charging today.

CCSE’s staff had a great time celebrating alongside so many EV enthusiasts, and with up to $10,000 in electric vehicle incentives through the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and other incentives listed at www.driveclean.ca.gov, we can’t wait to see all of the new EV drivers at next year’s event.

There has been recent confusion over the eligibility of vehicles leased for fewer than 36 months, so the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) staff would like to clarify some specifics of our program requirements.

Since the onset of the CVRP, the California Air Resources Board ( ARB) has established policy that a 36-month ownership period (through either continuous lease or purchase) of vehicle operation in the state is necessary to realize the air quality benefits associated with the substantial public investment in clean vehicle rebates.  While a 24-month lease of a clean vehicle provides environmental benefits, and may present the best financial option for an individual, leases of less than 36 months do not demonstrate the intent to keep the vehicle for the required three years, and thus are not eligible for the state rebate.

In the rare cases in which unforeseen circumstances occur (such as job loss, move out of state, etc.), rebate recipients may be granted approval on a case-by-case basis by the ARB to sell or return their vehicle within the three year period.   After receiving ARB approval for the sale or return of the vehicle, the applicant is required to return the full amount or a prorated portion of their rebate back to the program to fund more rebates.

Take-away message: CVRP-eligible vehicles leased for less than 36 months are NOT ELIGIBLE to receive the California rebate, and these applications will be denied upon submission.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) hit the road again and headed to Modesto to promote the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).  The CVRP, in conjunction with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, San Joaquin Valley Clean Cities Coalition, and the Modesto Irrigation District, hosted an electric vehicle workshop on Saturday, July 21, with over 80 local residents in attendance.  The workshop, The Future is Electric: Plug In and Get There!, informed attendees about local and statewide rebates, PEV charging, California PEV infrastructure, and heard from current PEV owners on what it’s like to own and operate these unique vehicles.