EV Club of CT's Barry Kresch discusses CHEAPR rebates, Westport CT's Model 3 Police Car, and Jim Motavalli's upcoming interview with Jay Leno
Why an article like this in a period of pandemic, along with joblessness, massive social unrest, and a growing sense of profound injustice and climate crisis? I'd argue what better time to help others start to not just think about a more sustainable future, but to act in a more sustainable way. Consider that the populations least likely to afford new vehicles more likely to be most adversely affected by climate change, and even more directly by the detrimental effects of gasoline and diesel emissions. For me personally, it helps to keep thinking of a brighter future, and to share some of the baby steps my family is starting to take with all that in mind.
Yesterday evening, I quite enjoyed recording a conversation I had with a fellow Connecticut resident about EVs. We dove pretty deep into some of the challenges with EV incentive programs intended to foster EV (Electric Vehicle) adoption. If you're wondering where the funding comes from, it's explained in the CHEAPR FAQ, and if you're wondering what CHEAPR stands for, why that's the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate, of course!
We touched upon the recent welcome coverage of the Westport Police Model 3 on the popular podcast called Ride the Lightning by Ryan McAfree. Have a listen for yourself, I've got it cued to exactly the right spot.
We also discussed an EV parade coming up in Westport CT featuring the now-famous Westport Police Tesla Model 3, and I'll be there with my Model 3 too! Barry was also happy to share that pre-registration for the parade has already filled up, and that there is an opportunity to see and hear Jay Leno talk about EVs with Fairfield-based automotive writer and Sustainable Fairfield member Jim Motavalli, via Zoom on Saturday Sep 26th with details here.
In light of recent set-backs with Hydrogen, such as the Nikola Motors/GM controversy and Toyota's suspension of Hydrogen vehicles after a recent Hydrogen Station explosion in Norway, much of the conversation with Barry centers around his hope that there can be less emphasis on Hydrogen, and more on EVs for everybody, with the CHEAPR program a motivator for buyers of EVs regardless of their income level, within reason. The current program's 42K cap leaves the soon-to-be-sales champion Model Y out, something I pointed out.
What Barry does with visualizing EV Sales data procured through Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) is wonderful, making it clear that the program is currently mismatched with the vehicles that Connecticut residents are actually buying.
Hopefully our conversation is in the spirit of constructively helping listeners better understand the challenge, with an overriding theme of how very worthwhile the EV Club of CT's efforts are to encouraging EV adoption, in hopes of reducing the very real cost that emissions from gasoline vehicles have on climate and health, right here in this busy corner of the country nestled between Boston and New York City.
Wherever you live in the world, please feel free to drop a comment below this article or the video, we'd love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and feedback!
Audio
Video
Several more videos related to the Model 3 police car below!
Free Supercharging: If you find this article of value and decide to order a Tesla, please consider using this ts.la/paul68544 referral link when placing your order so you and I both get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging. If you order Solar, it's a $250 award after system activation.
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 financed the purchase of 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!
Shownotes
Copy-and-pasted from the YouTube Video description:
EV Parade – Green Wheels Expo
September 27 @ 9:30 am - 11:00 am
National Drive Electric Week
https://evclubct.com/event/ev-parade-green-wheels-expo/
Find your local National Drive Electric Week 2020 event:
https://driveelectricweek.org/?s=pia84&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=a3eac2d5-ddd8-4895-8185-941ec2642561
To be featured in the parade this year is TinkerTry's Model 3, and the 1903 Baker Torpedo Kid Replica EV, from 1903!
http://www.inthedriveway.com/the-classics/1903-baker-torpedo-kid-replica-an-electric-ride
Sustainable Fairfield Green Wheels Expo Event featuring Jay Leno!
https://sustainablefairfield.wordpress.com/green-wheels-expo-events/
EV Club of CT Interactive EV Dashboard July 2020
https://evclubct.com/interactive-ev-dashboard-july-2020/
July CHEAPR Stats – Upcoming Board Meeting
https://evclubct.com/july-cheapr-stats-upcoming-board-meeting/
Where Should I Buy an EV?
Federal and State of CT Incentives for EV Purchase
Data from the Center for Sustainable Energy Helps Us Identify EV-friendly Dealers
https://evclubct.com/where-should-i-buy-an-ev/
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection CHEAPR info:
(Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Air/Mobile-Sources/CHEAPR/CHEAPR---Eligible-Vehicles
Ride the Lightning: Tesla Motors Unofficial Podcast Ryan McCaffrey
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-267-small-cybertruck-update-westports-model/id1025399574
Detailed tour of Westport CT Police Model 3, the first to use the big battery pack for accessories
https://youtu.be/JNz2hlLVYI8
Tesla Police Car Ride Along! | In Depth
https://youtu.be/Rmlnv3riJSY
Sep 16 2020 Update
Preamble to this article added above.
See also
- Join us for National Drive Electric Week 2020
Sep 10 2020 by Plug In America
- CHEAPR Rebates Close Out a Slow Q2 – Will They Make Changes?
Aug 02 2020 by Barry Kresch at EV Club of CTThis tepid number was only slightly higher than the 27 in May, closing the quarter with a soft 81 rebates total and 275 for the first half of the year. This 275 compares to 818 during the first half of 2019.
Partly, this was due to the recession, but a lot of it has to do with the changes made to the program in October 2019, when the price cap for vehicle eligibility was lowered from $50K to $42K. You can see in the graph that the numbers immediately tanked in November and have stayed low.
...
See also at TinkerTry
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