If you are thinking of getting an electric vehicle, now might be the best time. As Leslie Zebrowitz, co-chair of the Newton EV Task Force, explained in an op-ed in Fig City News last week, certain electric cars are eligible for a federal tax credit up to $7500 during January and February. There will be federal tax credits after that, but the program will change in March. In addition to the federal subsidy, Massachusetts joins seven other states in also offering an incentive (up to $3500 in Massachusetts and up to $5000 in Colorado and Connecticut).
About 35% of greenhouse gases in Newton come from gas-powered cars, according to the City’s webpage, Green Your Transportation. It’s important now that climate chaos is upon us to consider how we get around — gas or electric or hybrid car, bike or e-bike, scooter or e-scooter, or your own two feet.
To support more electric cars on the road, there must be sufficient charging-station infrastructure. Tesla has onboard information that tells drivers where charging stations are located. A Tesla can be fully charged in one hour, with a half charge completed in about 20 minutes. A fully charged Tesla can travel about 250 miles, depending on terrain and size of battery. Some fully charged Teslas can go 400 miles.
Other electric cars can use a universal charging station that is owned by the driver, a governmental unit, or privately owned public stations. Level 1 stations, which can fully charge a vehicle in up to 60 hours, connect into a regular electric circuit, as found in homes or motels. Level 2 stations, which can fully charge a vehicle in 4-10 hours, can be installed at homes, at businesses, or public locations. Level 3 stations, or Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC), are common at workplaces and along some highways (electric vehicle corridors). These chargers can bring a vehicle to 80% of capacity in under an hour. Since the last 10% of a full charge takes the longest, it makes sense to charge up to 80% a few times, rather than spend the extra time to get a full charge.
Liora Silkes, the City of Newton’s Energy Coach, reported that “The City is supporting the transition to electric vehicles through infrastructure and education. We have installed 22 chargers (44 ports total) at 11 parking locations around the City and are working to install more. These chargers offer subsidized electric rates. We’re also here to help residents and businesses with their EV and charging decisions, with information on incentives (see graphic) and Energy Coaches to talk with you.”
According to the Alternative Fuel Data Center at the Department of Energy, there were 30,420 registered electric motor vehicles in Massachusetts as of June 20, 2022. About 5% of all new cars registered in 2022 are electric.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is offering several rolling grant programs for the installation of charging stations. For example, the installation of a charging station on public property is allowed a 50-100% rebate for equipment and installation, up to $50,000. There are lesser rebates for private property. See ev.connect to learn more and to complete an application.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Plan for MA indicates that the state received $9,397,328 in actual FY 2022 funding, and is expected to receive $13,522,732 in FY funding, to implement its plan to build out alternative fuel corridors. Massachusetts has 851 miles of charging corridors thus far. The Alternative Fuel Data Center has interactive maps of these electric charging corridors. There are 555 public charging station ports (Level 2 and Level 3) within 15 km of Boston, with 92% of the ports Level 2 and 62% of the ports offering free charges.
Charging stations in Newton can be found at the Library, Newton North and Newton South High Schools, the Shops at Chestnut Hill, several municipal parking lots, and other places. According to PlugShare.com, there are 3317 charging stations within Boston-Cambridge-Newton. City Councilor Emily Norton, who drives an electric Bolt, says “we have made progress (in helping to increase the number of EVs in Newton), but there is much more we can do.” She would like to see “more public charging including Level 3, more organized test drives, signage in all public parking lots promoting EVs, more chargers (including Level 1) required in all special permits, and preferential parking for EVs.”
Not everyone who wants to purchase an EV has a place to charge it. Marcia Cooper, president of Green Newton, notes that the “Electric Vehicle Task Force would like the City to work on a solution for apartment dwellers who want to purchase an EV but have no place to charge it.”
Green Newton will present a webinar, Electric Vehicles 101, at noon on January 31.
The United States as a whole is behind other countries in getting electric powered vehicles on the roads. The country that is ahead of all others is Norway, where 20% of cars are electric-powered, having doubled their share of the cars on the road over the past three years, due largely to extensive government incentives. In the capital city, Oslo, 33% of vehicles are electric, and their goal is 100% electric by 2030.
