Tesla, Rivian, Lucid EVs, an e-bus, and many e-bikes at the Connecticut State Capitol as lawmakers consider SB 214 for direct sales and SB 4 for clean air
Hope for a better future is a powerful thing. That feeling of hope was pervasive during these electrification-themed EVents held right by our State Capitol on this glorious spring day in Hartford, one of many cities whose residents are more affected by Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution.
Several have written about these special events already, so my article will only briefly re-cap my experience as an exhibitor and attendee, then quickly focus to the fun and advocacy through hi-res photos and 4K videos.
I recently volunteered for some booth duty a the e-bike event, coming up with a modest EV Club of Connecticut table where I was quickly surrounded by a family-fun vibe as soon as I arrived. There were plenty of kids looking around, getting a glimpse of the future with their parents. Some folks test-rode e-bikes, and a few others had their very first ride-along experience in an EV. At least one journalist and one legislator got to ride both! In the e-bike area, there were many generations represented, with creakier joints making the allure of an e-bike that much stronger. A novel way to get around a little easier and far more efficiently than any car, especially fun on gorgeous blue-skies days like this. Many folks had a LOT of questions about EVs too. Of course I was happy to oblige, deep-diving away into the brave new world of EV pickups with a representative from the City of New Haven Transportation, Traffic, & Parking for example.
At the EV event featuring representatives from Tesla (Model 3), Rivian (R1T), and Lucid Motors (Lucid Air with >500 miles of range), I met a local news cameraman who was 6' 6" tall was keen on determining whether he could actually fit in the world's first electric pickup truck, the mid-sized Rivian R1T. In short, yes, although a little of his usual head-ducking to get in was required. Plenty of headroom once seated.
Later on, I got to nerd out over the tech under the hood, under chassis, and inside the cab of an insanely clean fully-electric school bus from Middletown Connecticut that is actually in operation today! It uses Ford for the E-350 front-end/chassis, Collins Bus Corporation for the body, and Motiv Power Systems for the motor and battery pack. My detailed overview is included in my video library below. Please feel free to leave comments below this article of the videos, feedback is always appreciated!
In short, I had a blast, and I certainly appreciate being invited, all thanks to Thomas Regan-Lefebvre, Barry Kresch, and Analiese Mione!
Table of Contents
- It's currently not legal to sell these EVs in Connecticut
- E-bike exhibitors
- Event announcements
- Event press
- Video
- Photos
- See also at TinkerTry
- See also
- Disclosure
- Social
It's currently not legal for these EVs to be sold in Connecticut, but you can help change the antiquated law.
What better timing that holding these events on the dawn of new bills that are before the lawmakers of Connecticut right now, along with easy ways for Connecticut residents to contact them:
-
SB 4 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR ACT.
Transport Hartford Academy, Center for Latino Progress has made it easy to contact your legislators about SB 4 for Clean Air by listing the finder here at cga.ct.gov to tell your legislators that you'd like to see better incentives for e-bikes. - SB 214 - AN ACT CONCERNING THE SALE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE STATE.
EV Club of Connecticut has made it easy to contact your legislators about SB 214 for Direct Sales here at EVFreedomCT.com.
If you're interested in my EV bill testimony, here's my submissions for 2021 2022, with both of these current bills SB 4 and SB 214 under consideration right during upcoming Earth Week 2022!
- Author Paul Braren is an IT Professional from Wethersfield Connecticut who also writes for his TinkerTry.com blog and creates EV videos that include the EV Owner Show & Tell series. You can subscribe to his EV content here. Paul is also a member of the EV Club of Connecticut Leadership Team, and volunteer EV advocacy group. He also helps out with their Twitter @EVClubCT and YouTube Channel, and attends events like this to share his passion for all things related to a more sustainable future.
E-bike exhibitors
- Bici. Co - Center for Latino Progress, Harford, CT.
- Bikers Edge - Bristol, CT. Torrington, CT.
- The Cutting Edge - Berlin, CT.
- Trek Bicycle Newington - Newington, CT.
- Spark Cycle Works - Branford, CT.
- The Bike Cellar/Northeast Battery Systems - Avon, CT.
- Super Pedestrian - Electric scooters.
- Suburban Sports - Berlin, CT.
- Ridgeline Bicycles - Avon, CT.
- Watch For Me CT - Roadway safety.
- East Coast Greenway - Connects 15 states and 450 cities.
- CT Rides - Driving alone less.
- EV Club of Connecticut - EV Advocacy.
Event announcements
- E-Bike Day at CT State Capitol
Facebook post by Transport Hartford Academy, Center for Latino Progress - Connecticut Puerto Rican Forum
- E-bike fest at the CT State Capitol
EV Club of CTA fun e-bike fest at the CT State Capitol on Wed, Apr 13th, 11am-1pm. Bike shops from across CT will be there, along with environmental leaders, local leaders, legislators, e-bike riders, and the e-bike curious. The event is in support of SB-4, from the angle of affordability, equity, and EV-micromobility.
Event press
- EV Owners Join Supporters At Connecticut State Capital In Favor Of SB 214
Apr 25 2022 by Johnna Crider at CleanTechnicaEV owners across all brands recently showed up in the Connecticut State Capital to show their support for Senate Bill 214. Paul Braren, writer at TinkerTry, was invited and he shared his perspective in a recent post with several photos. Paul noted that Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid were all represented at the event and there were several e-bikes and even an electric school bus at the capitol.
- Dan Haar: What I learned riding an e-bike and driving an electric truck
Apr 14 2022 by Dan Haar at New Haven Register... I pulled out of the state Capitol parking lot as one of the first drivers in the state to try out the new, 800-horsepower Rivian R1T pickup truck. What happened next, I did not expect.
...
It was Electric Vehicle Day at the Capitol. EV folks of all stripes gathered to talk up their favored bills, which could pass or die over the next three weeks, and show off their goods: e-bikes; affordable Tesla models; an all-electric school bus from Dattco; a $169,000 Lucid Motors Air Dream Edition luxury sedan; electric mopeds designed and made in Branford by Spark Cycleworks.
...
“This is the first ever electric pickup on the market,” said John Stephenson, the Rivian director of state policy, who drove the vehicle up from metro D.C. Tuesday night with a colleague, Kaitlin Monaghan. “It can tow 11,000 pounds.”
- E-Bikes Make Their Way To the Capitol
Apr 13 2022 by Katie Cerulle at CT News JunkieHARTFORD — Hartford bike shops and e-bike advocates gathered at the state Capitol Wednesday to host an E-Bike demonstration day.
The event was created to “highlight the benefits of E-Bikes as a sustainable, reliable, and enjoyable mode of transportation” according to a press release.
The bikes are also part of SB 4, a bill that would reduce carbon emissions in the state by expanding public and private utilization of electric vehicles. In order to do this, the bill would give $500 vouchers to low-middle income residents to purchase an E-Bike that costs $3,000 or less.
...
Casey Dooley, from Trek Bicycle in Newington, said that some of the first Trek electric bikes to hit the market in 2001 were made for commuters, but the industry has grown into mountain bikes, road bikes, commuter bikes, and bikes simply for leisure.
- E-Bike Day in Hartford highlights sustainable transportation
Apr 13 2022 by Daniela Doncel at WTIC NewsTalk 1080The Clean Air bill would expand public and private use of electric vehicles. For example, it would implement a program that would offer $500 vouchers for lower income residents to help them buy an e-bike.
"We really think [the vouchers] would help people in Hartford because many of them don't have access to a car and sometimes transportation is not that effective for their needs," Coordinator Thomas Regan-Lefebvre with the advocacy program Hartford Transport Academy said.
- Tesla, Lucid and Rivian show off cars as electric vehicle bills sit before state lawmakers
Apr 13 2022 by Jodi Latina at News 8HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Will this be the year lawmakers allow direct sales of electric vehicles in Connecticut? On Wednesday, several companies showed off their electric vehicles at the Capital.
Because of laws on the books, Connecticut consumers have to go online right now to purchase one of these cars. There are two bills before lawmakers that could change that.
Transportation is the greatest contributor to dirty air in Connecticut. But unless you are a car dealer with a franchise license, you cannot sell any of these electric vehicles to Connecticut drivers concerned about the environment.
Video
Photos
All photos below taken by Paul Braren on April 13 2022 in Hartford, Connecticut.
EVs
E-bus
E-bikes
See also at TinkerTry
- EV Club of Connecticut Show & Tell videos feature owners sharing their real-world experiences
Oct 20 2021 Updated Feb 20 2022
- I saw the future: all-electric Rivian R1T pickup truck at all-electric Hotel Marcel in New Haven Connecticut
May 15 2021
- Affordable and convenient way to get Tesla cables off the garage floor, trip-free charging from above!
Feb 01 2020
See also
- ct.gov/e-bus
Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Projects and Partners
Electric Bus LogoThe Connecticut Electric Bus Initiative is a partnership between the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) and CTtransit. It will showcase Connecticut’s commitment to providing a reliable, safe, sustainable, clean energy transportation system.
Lemon Laws do cover direct sales EVs
Lemon Law clarification in response to this article, reprinted here with author's permission, removing only his email and mailing address:
-----Original Message-----
From: ROGER F JOYCE
Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2022 7:28 PM
To: mpazniokas@ctmirror.org
Subject: SB 214Hi, Mark.
I am writing to dispute the position of three CT auto dealers (as published in the CT Mirror this morning) who claim that SB 214 will allow EV manufacturers to circumvent CT’s Lemon Law. This is not the case.
All CT consumer protection laws are applicable to EV manufacturers (currently Tesla, Rivian and Lucid). If a claim is filed by a CT resident, the vehicle manufacturer is the responsible party to answer. The dealer network is not a party to such a claim and their concerns have no basis.
I am writing as a Rivian customer and advocate of EV vehicles. The current franchise law protects auto dealerships and limits consumer choice. As a state, we need to correct this restriction in order to provide EV access to all CT residents.
Regards,
Roger.
Roger F. Joyce
Disclosure
My family owns no stock in Tesla. Tesla doesn't advertise at TinkerTry, or anywhere else, and this is not a sponsored post. We purchased two Tesla Model 3s, replacing my 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid in December of 2018 and replacing my wife's 2005 Honda Civic EX in December of 2019. These big moves to an all-electric household were an expression of our mutual desire to go green, avoid gasoline, be safe, have fun, and save money in the long run. Mostly for my job, I drive a lot, 25,000 miles in 2019 for example, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing what I've learned with you. I hope you can tell!
Social
US Companies @Tesla, @Rivian, and @LucidMotors visited the Connecticut State Capitol to answer questions and offer elected officials a ride.
— EV Club of Connecticut (@EVClubCT) April 16, 2022
If you want to buy, take delivery, and service such EVs in Connecticut, now is time to support SB 214!
It's easy -> https://t.co/Z0uuPIsQ1E pic.twitter.com/R9y6w6Bf6O
https://t.co/thjX89bF3m@LungAssociation
— Paul Braren | TinkerTry.com 🖥️🔌☀️🔋🚗 (@paulbraren) April 16, 2022
Thank you @Rivian for bringing an R1T electric pickup truck to Connecticut yesterday, it was this growing family's very first look inside! They're eager awaiting delivery of their R1S SUV with 3 row seating.
— EV Club of Connecticut (@EVClubCT) April 14, 2022
4K full video - > https://t.co/qJBV4IYu7D pic.twitter.com/9eP6K6FqpJ
That >500 mile range Lucid Air EV up close!
— EV Club of Connecticut (@EVClubCT) April 14, 2022
(lidar and camera)@LucidMotors pic.twitter.com/d8t8lHasSa
Great turnout! https://t.co/yukfMYbTdp pic.twitter.com/QIxkkmgOxk
— EV Club of Connecticut (@EVClubCT) April 13, 2022
Some awesome advocates brought their e-bikes to the Capitol today in support of the Connecticut Clean Air Act. @SenatorCohenCT and I took them for a spin around Bushnell Park! Let’s make these green transportation options affordable and accessible by passing SB 4. pic.twitter.com/W9geklxfEk
— Will Haskell (@WillHaskellCT) April 13, 2022
Spotted at the Capitol:@WillHaskellCT and @SenatorCohenCT fleeing government agents pic.twitter.com/mfOrG55vdw
— Nic O'Loughlin (@NicOLoughlin) April 13, 2022
