Laying the Foundation for EV Adoption
I’ve made no bones about the fact that I’m not a fan of the Tesla Roadster, which I see as uber-expensive, rich-guy toy. My eye is more on the introduction of the Chevy Volt and the plug-in Prius scheduled for 2011. Those are the vehicles that will pioneer the use of electrics by the rest of us. I mean honestly, I’m not in the same driving circles with George Clooney and Governor Schwarzenegger. I’m just saying.
For that matter, I’m just as attracted to three-wheel alternative electrics like the Aptera that sells for about $40,000. That’s still pricey, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes a tax credit of $7,500 available to consumers who buy a plug-in EV. Couple that with the money the legislation allocates for research in battery manufacturing (as well as tax credits for building the facilities to do the work) and I’m beginning to see a foundation laid for the infrastructure that will make widespread EV adoption viable.
Right now Americans are dropping a billion dollars a day gassing up their cars. Why? Because there’s a gas station on every corner. Americans who are completely wedded to their personal transportation balk at the limited range of an EV with no way to conveniently juice up their ride during a latte at Starbucks. But this is technology that could free us of our dependence on foreign oil while reducing the emissions that are destroying our environment.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is funded for two years. A lot can happen in that time. All criticism of the Obama administration’s first hundred days aside, this support for EV transportation gives me hope.