The Energy Consumer's Bulletin- a New England energy news blog

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Massachusetts Electricity Rate Reform is Heading in the Right Direction

Back in May, several Massachusetts state agencies came together to form an Interagency Rates Working Group (IRWG) to advance near- and long-term...

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Electric vehicles/Transportation (14)

Energy policy & advocacy Electric vehicles/Transportation

Hey Congress – please fix the federal tax credit for electric cars

By all accounts, the recession caused by COVID-19 is hammering the auto industry in the United States and worldwide. Many factories are closed and dealerships have laid off most of their employees. Not surprisingly, members of Congress from some states most affected – Michigan, Ohio, and Alabama – are working on ideas to stimulate demand for new cars. Details are scant but as reported in the Washington Post on May 6, it appears to be along the lines of a “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Picture of Larry Chretien Larry Chretien
Electric vehicles/Transportation

Electric Pick-ups Beyond the Tesla Cybertruck

Electric cars have long been bogged down by the same stereotypes. People claim that they are less powerful than their gasoline counterparts, made just for urban life, and not in it for the “long-haul” journey. The call for innovation to reimagine what an EV can do or look like has been heard by an array of automakers, from established brands to up and coming change makers. Whether the world is ready or not, 2020 marks the dawn of the Electric Pickup Truck.

Tori Yanco
Electric vehicles/Transportation Guest blog/Member spotlight

Across the US and Back in a Fully Electric Vehicle

One of the top concerns we at Green Energy Consumers hear from people who are considering switching to an electric vehicle is: "how far can I go?" Well, two of our EV Ambassadors recently completed an 8,854-mile road-trip from Massachusetts all the way to California in an all-electric Kia Niro EV and kindly wrote up this blogpost for us. It's longer than our usual blogposts, but well worth the trip (pun intended!) for all who are interested in the nitty-gritty of taking a really, *really* long road-trip in an all-electric car. The following was all written by Glen Ayers, with a couple of editorial notes from Green Energy Consumers in italics.

Glen Ayers, Guest Blogger
Electric vehicles/Transportation

Medium-Duty Electric Vans and Shuttle Buses

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the transportation sector is arguably one of the most promising sectors in terms of switching to clean energy. Transportation accounts for 43% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in MA and 36% of emissions in RI. Electric vehicles are, therefore, one of the keys to reaching both states’ long term climate goals. Our Drive Green program helps to put electric passenger vehicles on the road, but we’d like to draw your attention to another part of the market: medium-duty vehicles. The medium-duty segment of the market has not kept pace with light-duty (passenger) electric vehicles. Beyond passenger cars, we frequently get asked about electric passenger vans and shuttles for institutions around New England, like schools, research institutions, hospitals, and private companies. Here’s what you should know about electrified medium-duty vehicle market in 2020.

Rhys Webb & Devan DiLibero
Electric vehicles/Transportation Electricity and the grid

Making the Most of EV Batteries with Vehicle-To-Grid

Green Energy Consumers Alliance supports the idea that we need to electrify everything. By shifting sectors that have been historically powered by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as heating and transportation, to electricity, we can dramatically reduce emissions in the short-term while setting up a path to a net zero-carbon society in the long-term.

Mal Skowron and Paola Massoli
Electric vehicles/Transportation

Electric Car Tax Credits, Explained

It’s tax season, and though you probably didn’t want to fill out another IRS form, Form 8936 (Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit) is worth the effort. The federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs) allows you to claim up to $7,500 on your returns for buying a new electric car. Here’s what you need to know about the federal tax credit and how to take advantage of it.

Mal Skowron
Electric vehicles/Transportation Guest blog/Member spotlight

The Buzz Around Bolts

 

If you read our last EV owners blog, then you probably already know a little about what makes people so passionate about their electric vehicles—regenerative braking, quick pick-up, no noise, and of course, zero emissions! Because of this passion, we’ve sold a lot of cars through Drive Green, and the Chevrolet Bolt has consistently been one of the most popular. I spoke with some of our dedicated electric vehicle (EV) owners to see why they’re so committed to their Bolts.

Rhys Webb