The state of Georgia, in the United States, thinks that electric vehicles are a good idea, and is holding out the carrot to organizations and universities to increase their use of the new technology.
While many fleets have determined that electric vehicles are a great way to reduce their transportation bottom line, there’s still plenty of room for improvement, however. Delivery fleets, police fleets, and even taxi fleets are finding that electric vehicles, even mid-range Nissan LEAF and Chevy Volt vehicles, fit well within their needs for daily transportation. The result is thousands of dollars in fuel savings, not to mention thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide eliminated. Still, the initial investment can be daunting, which is where incentive plans come in.
Georgia is holding out the carrot to encourage state and local governments and universities to make the switch to electric vehicle transportation. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) has set aside $281,000 for the program, awarding up to $40,000, per application, starting October 7. Qualified organizations can apply for up to $40,000 to install electric vehicle charging stations. A police station, for example, may be eligible for just the $40,000 limit, but a university with multiple campuses might qualify for up to $40,000 per campus.
GEFA’s ultimate goal, once financing runs out, is to get up to thirty electric vehicle charging stations installed, which will help reduce range anxiety for drivers in the state. Police and campus fleets can reduce emissions and costs, which ultimately affects tax revenue utilization. Additionally, campus-installed electric vehicle charging stations may also benefit students and faculty who choose to drive electric. As a partial return for receiving the incentives, GEFA is requiring charging station data for study over the next three years.
Photo credit: Kadath
