What’s the best way to tell if BMW is making a visit to CCSE?  You’ll find a shiny new BMW Active-E in the parking lot.  This Tuesday, BMW and the Transportation Team at CCSE jointly hosted a workshop to cover all things plug-in electric vehicles ( PEV).  Over 50 attendees were able to check out (and make a few blissful laps around the block in) BMW’s all-electric Active-E.

Workshop on plug-in EVs features experiences of local vehicle owners

Learn about recent developments in the electric vehicle revolution sweeping across California during a presentation on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District, 550 Olive Street. The workshop will focus on plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and feature a panel of local owners discussing their experiences with PEVs in everyday life.

Welcoming New Rebate Opportunities – The Mitsubishi i Has Arrived

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project is turning over a new leaf in 2012, ushering in the first Mitsubishi i rebate application.  While a whopping 93% of rebate checks last year were issued to Nissan LEAF drivers, there may be a new kid in town.  The 2012 Mitsubishi i has already seen over 400 pre-orders from the Mitsubishi website, and expects to become a popular option in California.  With a CVRP rebate eligibility of $2,000, the i offers a great deal of savings for its surprisingly low pricetag.

The Mitsubishi i (also known as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV) is geared up to make its North-American debut in January 2012 as the latest in a line of smaller electric cars (akin to the smart ED and TH!NK City).  While the i can already be found on the streets of Japan and Europe, the U.S. version will see some key design changes, including side curtain air bags and a slightly larger size overall.  Ideal for urban use, the compact electric i axes the engine, tank, and transmission in favor of a 16- Kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack, a 47- kilowatt motor producing 133 foot-pounds of torque, an inverter, and the car’s power electronics.  Measured against the EPA’s range estimate standard, the i is rated at 62 miles per charge, with an unadjusted range of 98 miles. If you’re looking for increased efficiency, the i delivers with a combined 112 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) EPA rating, ranking first place in the EPA’s 2012 Fuel Economy Guide.

While the Mitsubishi i boasts being the most affordable EV on the market (sub $20K after the CVRP and federal tax credit savings), it is not without the finer things.  Some features include remote control pre-heating or cooling of the vehicle as well as charging capabilities, ample room for up to four tall passengers in the front or back, 50 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seat is folded down, as well as available HDD Navigation and rearview camera.

Sending out the first $2,000 Mitsubishi i rebate check not only marks an individual triumph of pairing affordability with innovation, but CCSE expects this to be the first in a long line of individuals opting to take advantage of all that the i has to offer.

Rental fleets limited to 50 rebates, no limit for car share programs

As of December 2011, policies and procedures outlined in the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) FY 2011-2012 Implementation Manual are in effect. Potential rebate applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to review the manual as it clarifies the requirements for program participation, administration and implementation. The Implementation Manual is available on the CVRP and ARB websites. Key program changes for FY 2011-2011 are outlined below:

15 million available, Board Member Ron Roberts presents first check in San Diego

San Diego County Supervisor Ronald Roberts, a member of the California Air Resources Board ( ARB), presented the first rebate check issued from $15 million allocated by ARB for clean vehicles to Kim Adelman of Poway, Calif.

Updates Provided on the State Rebate and Public Infrastructure Status

October 16 marked the first ever National Plug-In Day (NPID).  The event was created by Plug-In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association as a way to draw attention to the many benefits of electric vehicles through simultaneously staged events in 29 cities throughout the country.