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12/3/20 Let’s Go Electric Meeting

12/3/20 FOLLOW-UP – SESSION HIGHLIGHTS AND RESOURCES 

RideWise Let’s Go Electric!  What’s Next in EVs 

To collaborate on the next ideas and actions needed to achieve EV adoption in Somerset County. 

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Education  

  • EV Ride and Drives – getting people behind the wheel is one of the most effective ways to do educate people.  In the absence of these events for now – testimonials are good.  Some places are doing virtual events (see NRDC article below) 
  • Education to dealerships about how to sell EVs and how to talk to potential buyers 
  • Plug In America dealer training program (https://plugstar.com/) includes a customer-facing component, to connect interested EV buyers with trained and certified dealers. 
  • We can’t rely on dealers to educate consumers/we need to education general public 
  • It’s going to take a while before EVs populate the used car market 
  • Promote EV charging at new affordable housing construction (206 Corridor, Hillsborough mentioned) 
  • E-mobility – car and ride sharing options at these housing units, in cities, etc. 
  • Equity – and also promotes awareness and visibility of EVs 
  • Plug In America is part of a new ride-share electrification working group for Mass. (hopefully more info to come) 
  • How do we get the messages out there?  We need to get basic facts to consumers 
  • Range, Price, Perception and Availability – the areas that need most focus.  Also 2-car families where at least one vehicle is electric and one gas powered for longer trips.   
  • Combat misperceptions, make sure car dealers don’t dissuade people from buying EVs 
  • Electrifying Uber, Lyft, taxis, etc. and get drivers talking to their passengers – Uber/Lyft is in early-stage discussions on an EV education campaign for drivers   
  • Electrifying fleets also helps educate consumers (don’t forget smaller companies) 
  • Look into EV education for schools/students 
  • Moving forward – partnering/collaborating with Somerset County Planning, Energy Council, SCBP/Sustainable Somerset. 

Community  

  • Leveraging Sustainable Jersey’s action Make Your Town Solar Friendly, which includes education & outreach 
  • Removing barriers to municipal adoption and creating a consistent framework statewide 
  • Awaiting NJDEP to finish the model ordinance for EV Charging Stations: David Kois, Hillsborough is working with NJ DEP to identify barriers at the local zoning level and consider amendments to the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) so that charging stations would be defined and permitted in certain zones, if not in all.  
  • Once the state releases their model ordinance, and if we get legislation (A5032) passed, this will be a great educational initiative to promote.  

Collaboration 

  • Dealer Sector is important to address 
  • Tesla successful because they don’t rely on dealers 
  • Public financing is attractive as a way to finance charging stations due to the low interest rates 
  • Utilities need ways to recover costs to participate in EV charging [due to regulatory] 

 

RESOURCES 

Workplace benefits: 

https://ngevcentral.com/ (a good model for encouraging adoption through workplace benefits; not available locally in NJ) 

Education:
Cities Turn to Virtual Electric Vehicle Education in 2020 | NRDC
 

ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED: 

ChargEVC – Pam Frank, Keynote

Central Jersey Electric Auto Association 

Clean Water Action NJ 

Environment New Jersey 

NJ Department of Environmental Protection 

NJ League of Conservation Voters 

NJ Sustainable Business Council 

Plug In America 

The Nature Conservancy