Todd I spent some time talking with Karen McNeil of the VT Public Service Board over the weekend. I told her the biggest thing would be a special electric rate for nighttime EV charging. With the impending roll-out of smart meters, this would be easy to implement. We currently have no incentive to charge at night unless we sign up for Time of Use rates, which at least for us would cost more. Her response was that the utilities have to come up with the idea first, or the legislature, and then her department would approve it.
I also told her that installing a bunch of 30A charging stations is mostly a waste of time and money. The only exception might be at hotels or ski areas so tourists can use them. Tourists generally aren't Vermonters so it wouldn't help adoption rates in VT very much. I might use them at ski areas cuz the parking will be closer to the lift, but rarely because I have plenty of range. So their only help would be for our tourist industries. I did say that 70A chargers might be useful so we can make longer trips easier. We need some in Southern VT, and possibly northern VT for Canadian travel.
Priority parking would be nice but frankly I'm worried about a backlash. Not sure how special EV plates would help us unless they allowed us other perks. Sales/Use tax exemption on cars and/or charging infrastructure would be REALLY nice but like you said we've got a tight budget right now.
As far as I know there's no EV parking at Burlington Int'l Airport for long-term parking. They need to change that. I've all but stopped flying from there because of it. Maybe I can park at your house next time? :tongue:
I also told her that somebody from Economic Development should contact Tesla to lobby them to install a SuperCharger in WRJ instead of W Leb. She didn't even know what a supercharger was but knew about Chademo DC charging.
A use tax discount might be palatable instead of a complete exemption. Please mention that to your legislator. And remind him or her about the benefits that VT would get from EV adoption - much easier to meet the renewable targets set in the recent energy bill, cleaner air, quieter downtowns and roads, less pollution from waste motor oil, underground gas/diesel tanks and the associated regulation/enforcement.
What we really need is a smart guy with a production studio to help make a movie that would educate other Vermonters about the best kept secret on our roads - EVs.:wink:
Thanks for doing this Todd.
I'm meeting with my Vermont state representative soon to discuss various ways that Vermont could provide incentives to EV owners. Given that the state has a budget deficit right now, this will probably NOT be in the form of an income tax credit. However, as our friends in California have shown, there are many other perks that could be implemented to encourage EV ownership. For example...
Free/Priority parking at state facilities, parks, airports, etc.
Special EV license plates
A front license plate exemption
Free charging stations
Car registration discount
I'd like to hear your ideas and suggestions, even if you are not from Vermont.