State Officials Announce Continued Partnership to Promote Electric Vehicles
Program Will Result in Consumer Awareness and Adoption of Electric Vehicles in the
Northeast
BOSTON – December 27, 2016 – State energy and environment officials today announced
the award of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to assist in
further collaboration between the Commonwealth and Plug In America to accelerate the
deployment of electric, plug-in electric and fuel cell electric vehicles,
collectively referred to as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), in the Massachusetts. DOE
selected Plug in America and Clean Cities programs in Massachusetts, as well as in
Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont, to provide funding for continued public,
workplace and fleet events over the next two years. Massachusetts currently offers
rebates to customers purchasing electric vehicles through the MOR-EV
program
million in additional
funding
for MOR-EV, representing more than double the rebate funding over the lifetime of
the program.
«The innovative test drive initiative funded by the program is proven to help shape
consumer perceptions of driving electric and how easy it is to make the switch away
from petroleum to make our environment cleaner,» said Energy and Environmental
Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. «The continuation of Mass Drive Clean federal
funding will leverage our successful experience in the Commonwealth with that of our
fellow New England states towards a collaborative effort to promote the positive
impacts of zero emissions vehicles.»
Mass Drive Clean is a highly successful pilot program funded through a DOE grant in
2015 that resulted in over 650 drivers and passengers test driving one or more
electric vehicles at employer sponsored and public events. The program was continued
this year with over 1000 test drives to date. The drives are a way for interested
drivers to get behind the wheel of multiple makes and models of these clean
vehicles. Each driver is surveyed before and after driving, with 83% saying that
their overall opinion of a ZEV is better than before their test drive and 68% said
that were more likely to purchase one now that they had experienced the performance
of the cars. Plug In America has shown in California that about 10% of ride and
drive participants will purchase a ZEV within six months. Surveys to Massachusetts
test drivers are being sent about 6 months after their drive to document results
here.
«Mass Drives Clean proves that by giving consumers the firsthand experience of
operating an electric, they are much more likely to purchase a vehicle and help take
a traditional vehicle off the road,» said Department of Energy Resources
Commissioner Judith Judson. «The increased adoption of electric vehicles is a vital
component of Massachusetts reducing emissions to meet our targets under the Global
Warming Solutions Act
Automotive dealership training and recognition is another component of the DOE
program and will be rolled out first in Massachusetts under this grant. This project
is one of only three ZEV showcase projects funded by the U.S. DOE around the
country, one in the mid-west and one in the northwest.
Plug In America is the leading national consumer voice promoting the use of plug-in
electric vehicles in the United States to consumers, policymakers, auto
manufacturers and others. Formed as a non-profit in 2008, Plug In America provides
practical, objective information collected from our coalition of plug-in vehicle
drivers, through public outreach and education, policy work and a range of technical
advisory services. Our expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience
of driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization conceived National
Drive Electric Week and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering ride-and-drive
events at such leading corporations as Google, Mattel and Paramount Pictures.
www.pluginamerica.org
Led by Commissioner Judith Judson, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
(DOER) develops and implements policies and programs aimed at ensuring the adequacy,
security, diversity, and cost-effectiveness of the Commonwealth’s energy supply to
create a clean, affordable and resilient energy future. To that end, DOER strives to
ensure deployment of all cost-effective energy efficiency, maximize development of
clean energy resources, create and implement energy strategies to assure reliable
supplies and improve the cost of clean energy relative to fossil-fuel based
generation and support Massachusetts’ clean energy companies and spur Massachusetts’
clean energy employment. DOER is an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs (EEA).