California Center for Sustainable Energy

CCSE takes electric vehicle workshops on the road

CCSE’s transportation team is taking electric vehicle promotion on the road this year in a series of workshops in cities throughout the state focusing on recent developments in the electric vehicle revolution sweeping across California. The workshops will focus on plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and feature panels of local owners in each city discussing their experiences with PEVs in everyday life.

The first session of “Plug-In Electric Vehicles: Innovation, Incentives and Infrastructure” will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District. CCSE is presenting the workshop in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, the Community Environmental Council, the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition and the UC Santa Barbara Sustainability Office.  For additional dates and locations of workshop sessions throughout California, visit www.energycenter.org/cvrp-events.

During the workshop, Colin Santulli, a PEV expert with CCSE’s Transportation Programs, will outline the financial and environmental benefits of PEV ownership, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) and the latest developments in vehicle options and the local infrastructure for vehicle charging. At most workshop locations, PEVs and other electric vehicles will on display and some available for test drives.

“By making the switch to cleaner, more efficient plug-in electric vehicles, individuals can reduce their use of petroleum and help create cleaner air for all of us,” Santulli said. “These workshops will be great opportunities for people to learn about the first-hand experiences of their neighbors who already own PEVs.”

The difference between other electric vehicles and PEVs is that they are at least partially powered by batteries onboard that charge up from the electrical grid rather than hybrids that have electrically assisted combustion engines. Some PEVs are all-electric and are solely fueled by the electrical grid. Currently available PEVs include the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Chevy Volt, Tesla Roadster and others.

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, administered statewide by CCSE, provides cash incentives up to $2,500 for purchasing new PEVs that qualify. The project is part of statewide efforts to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions funded by the Air Resources Board.

Continue reading January's newsletter.