Toyota Offering Early Adopters Up To $17,500 Off of RAV4 EV Purchase

Nobody seems overly-impressed with the new Toyota RAV4 EV. With a price tag similar to the Tesla Model S, but less than half the range, and sales limited to just California, calls of “compliance car” were shouted by many a blog. But in an interesting twist, Toyota is offering buyers a chance to cut the RAV4 EV’s price down to a much more acceptable level.

Some Toyota dealers in California, the only place you can buy the RAV4 EV, are offering $5,000 cash back off of the Toyota RAV4 EV, plus another $2,500 in “loyalty” cash when trading in another Toyota product. That’s already $7,500 off, but when you factor in the $7,500 Federal tax rebate and California’s own EV incentives, you can get up to $17,500 off of the RAV4 EV’s $49,900. That’s a lot of money, even compared to the $599-a-month lease price.

When all is said and done, certain customers could end up paying just over $32,000 for a RAV4 EV, a much more palpable price if you ask me. But will these offers bring in the customers? Or is the RAV4 EV and its 103-mile EPA rating still too much of a risk at that price?

Source: Plug-In Cars

California gasoline consumption down 1.8%, diesel up 4.8% in October 2011; gasoline consumption continues downward trend

Gasoline consumption in California declined 1.8% in October 2011 while diesel fuel consumption increased 4.8% according to a report released today by California State Board of Equalization (BOE).

High gas prices appear to be directly affecting fuel consumption in California. We are seeing a trend of Californians consuming less gasoline in the last eight months of 2011. We’ll see what coming months show as California begins to turn the corner and shows signs of economic growth.

—BOE Chairman Jerome E. Horton

California used 1.23 billion gallons of gasoline in October 2011 which is a 1.8% decline from the previous year when 1.26 gallons were used. In California, the average price of gasoline rose 74 cents to $3.89 per gallon in October 2011, a 23% increase compared to $ 3.15 per gallon in October 2010. Nationally, the average price of fuel jumped 66 cents to $3.51 in October 2011, a 23% increase over the October 2010 price per gallon of $2.85.

Diesel fuel consumption in California increased 10.3 million gallons in October to a total of 226 million gallons, which is a 4.8% increase compared to the previous year when 216 million gallons were consumed. The average price of diesel in California rose 85 cents to $4.06 per gallon in October 2011 compared to $3.21 per gallon in October 2010. Nationally, the average price of diesel rose 75 cents to $3.80 per gallon which is a 25% increase compared to $3.05 per gallon in October 2010.

California gasoline and diesel fuel figures are net consumption that includes audit assessments, refunds, amended and late tax returns and the State Controller’s Office refunds. BOE is able to monitor gallons through tax receipts paid by fuel distributors in California. BOE updates the reports at the end of each month.

Source: Green Car Congress

NEW DATA: CA Captures 69 Percent of Global EV Investment in 2011, Ranks First in Nation in EV Patents, EV Jobs Increase During Downturn

PRESS RELEASE

CA attracts $467 million in EV venture capital investment in first half of 2011, files more patents than other top patent developers globally

San Francisco- As California is poised to adopt a new round of car standards designed to cut emissions and expand the market for electric vehicles (EV), a new report provides insight into California's emerging leadership role in this fast-growing economic sector. New data reveals that California took in $467 million in global EV venture capital (VC) investment (69 percent of total dollars) in the first half of 2011 and, along with Michigan, is the top patent holder for new EV technology in the United States. Powering Innovation: California is Leading the Shift to Electric Vehicles from R&D to Early Adoption, from the nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization Next 10, tracks key indicators to assess opportunities and obstacles for California in the EV sector.

"California is fast becoming the world's advanced car capital-our entrepreneurs, savvy consumers, research institutions and our market-driving policies are creating a perfect storm for continued growth," said F. Noel Perry, businessman and founder of Next 10.

Chief Findings:

California is a global VC leader in electric vehicles, attracting 69 percent of the world's EV investment in the first half of 2011.

In the first half of 2011, California attracted 69 percent of global investment in EV-related sectors and 74 percent of United States investment in EV-related sectors ($467 million).

In 2010, California earned 80 percent ($840 million) of total U.S. and 60 percent of total global VC investment in EV‐related sectors.

Investment in this area has grown 712 percent since 2006 in the state, with Silicon Valley and Orange County attracting the most dollars.

California is a national and global patent leader in EV technology.

California and Michigan rank first in total EV technology patents in the nation- both generating 300 patents each between 2008-2010.

Just two decades ago, California ranked 17th in the nation in this area. This huge leap suggests California is taking the lead over older players in the development of newer technologies.

Battery patents dominate California EV patents (86 percent of all patents are for battery technology, from 2008-2010).

Globally, California trails only Japan and South Korea in patents but exceeds other top patent developers including Germany, Taiwan and France.

New jobs data shows strong growth in California's EV sector-going against recessionary trends.

During the recent downturn, EV jobs expanded four percent in California, while total employment in the state dropped seven percent from January 2009 to 2010.

Los Angeles and Silicon Valley enjoy the largest employment numbers, accounting for nearly half (47 percent) of EV employment in California.

Starting with a relatively modest base in the early days of the EV sector, jobs in California increased 142 percent from 1995 to 2010 (growing from 740 to 1,800). Over the same time period, jobs in the overall economy grew by 12 percent.

Manufacturing in California's EV sector is expanding, with a 51 percent increase in employment during the recent downturn (2009-2010).
EV business establishment numbers in the state dropped ten percent from January 2009 to 2010 suggesting that possible consolidation in the industry is taking place in the context of the economic downturn and evolving markets related to EVs.

California's history as an early adopter of new technology, its forward-looking polices and its strong community efforts to spur market growth in clean energy technology all contribute to its role as a market and infrastructure leader in the EV sector.
California ranks first in the nation in total charging stations (609) and first in the nation per capita (16.3 charging stations per million residents).
California ranks first in the country in total number of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

The growing EV sector represents a valuable, growing economic opportunity for California. Addressing the barriers to EV commercialization will encourage widespread adoption in California, the rest of the country, and abroad.

"California is capturing the full spectrum of value related to the EV industry from cradle to market," said Tracey Grose, lead author of the report and Vice President of Collaborative Economics. "The overall growth rate in California's EV market today is a clear indicator for strong future growth-even in manufacturing."

About Next 10
Next 10 is an independent, nonpartisan organization that educates, engages and empowers Californians to improve the state's future. Next 10 is focused on innovation and the intersection between the economy, the environment, and quality of life issues for all Californians. Next 10 employs research from leading experts on complex state issues and creates a portfolio of nonpartisan educational materials to foster a deeper understanding of the critical issues affecting our state.

About Collaborative Economics,
Collaborative Economics is a San Mateo, California-based research and consulting organization that works in the area of economic and environmental research. CE works with senior executives from business, foundations, government, education and community sectors to identify economic, environmental and social trends and promote regional innovation. For nearly two decades, Collaborative Economics has prepared the annual Index of Silicon Valley for Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network and has broken new ground in the study of the emerging green economy.

The California Energy Commission approved funding of $4,963,000 to help bring natural gas-powered shuttle buses and large trucks to California’s highw

The California Energy Commission approved funding of $4,963,000 to help bring natural gas-powered shuttle buses and large trucks to California’s highways. The awards, funded from the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, help to pay the difference between a conventional gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle and one powered by a cleaner alternative fuel.

The Energy Commission already has awarded nearly $15.5 million to help public and private fleet operators as well as individual consumers afford new alternative-fueled passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty buses and trucks. The on-road vehicles meet all the emission requirements of the Air Resources Board and are fully warranted by the original equipment manufacturer.

To make the Energy Commission’s buy-down program as efficient and simple as possible, the incentive reservations are awarded in blocks to vehicle manufacturers or their designated dealers. The incentives are passed on to the individual buyers at the point of sale. Applications from manufacturers for the program are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The newly approved incentives go to these companies:

• Creative Bus Sales (Chino) is awarded a total of $575,000 in incentives for 33 vehicles manufactured by Champion Bus. Creative Bus Sales will use $15,000 to buy-down 5 natural gas-powered vans of up to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $560,000 to help purchase 28 natural gas shuttle buses of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

• Rotolo Chevrolet (Fontana) is awarded a total of $40,000 in incentives to buy-down 5 natural gas-powered commuter vans of 8,500 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight that are manufactured by General Motors.

• Nations Bus Corporation (Inglewood) is awarded a total of $180,000 in incentives for 9 vehicles manufactured by the Diamond Coach Corp. The natural gas-powered vans will be in the 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.

• Capacity of Texas, Inc. (Longview, Texas) is awarded $1,280,000 in incentives to help buy-down 40 heavy-duty natural gas-powered trucks in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. The company is the original equipment manufacturer of the vehicles.

• TEC of California (Oakland, La Mirada and Fontana) is awarded $1,280,000 in incentives to help buy-down 40 heavy-duty natural gas-powered trucks in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. The vehicles are built by Mack Truck.

• Bridgeport Truck Manufacturing (Bridgeport, Texas) is awarded $320,000 in incentives to help buy-down 10 natural gas-powered trucks that they manufacture. The 10 trucks will be in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range.

• West Coast Bus Sales, Inc. (Oakland) is awarded a total of $380,000 in incentives for 25 vehicles manufactured by Tiffany Coachworks, Perris, California. West Coast Bus Sales will use $80,000 to buy-down 10 natural gas-powered large vans in the range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $300,000 to help purchase 15 natural gas shuttle buses of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

• West Coast Bus Sales, Inc. (Oakland) is awarded $380,000 in incentives to help buydown 25 vehicles manufactured by Federal Coach. West Coast Bus Sales will use $80,000 to buy-down 10 natural gas-powered vans in the range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $300,000 to buy-down 15 natural gas shuttle buses in the range of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

• Inland Chevrolet (Hemet) is awarded $528,000 in incentives to help buy-down 66 General Motors natural gas-powered vans in the range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

To benefit from the incentives, purchasers must agree to operate the vehicles in California on the alternative fuel at least 90% of the time for three years.

Source: Green Car Congress

City of Los Angeles Builds Out New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Key Transit Locations

Nissan Leaf Takes a Charge




The California Energy Commission recently announced EV Connect, a leading provider of electric vehicle infrastructure solutions (EVISs) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will be conducting a pilot program to assess the integration of PEVs into the transportation network and consumer behavior and ridership patterns.

“We are looking forward to the success of this pilot effort, which will encourage drivers of plug-in electric vehicles to use Metro while charging their vehicles at our transit stations”

"This project will bring the city of Los Angeles closer to achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 35 percent below 1990 levels by 2030," said Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert. "The Energy Commission is proud to be a part of this first-of-its-kind PEV infrastructure rollout with EV Connect and Metro."

This pilot project aims to understand the viability of a PEV-transit network and establish best practices that optimize the consumer experience while reducing the carbon footprint of Los Angeles. The transportation sector alone accounts for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the State of California, six percent higher than the national average. Completion of this project and its potential as a major transit component will further reduce priority air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in the City and County of Los Angeles.

“We are looking forward to the success of this pilot effort, which will encourage drivers of plug-in electric vehicles to use Metro while charging their vehicles at our transit stations,” said Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. “At Metro we demonstrate best practices in sustainability with over 2,500 clean air buses along with a commitment in building all new transit facilities to LEED standards. This project is another example of how Metro is protecting the environment.”

EV infrastructure will be integrated at strategic points at the end of the system, such as Canoga and Sierra Madre, as well as at heavy traffic locations such as Union Station and Universal City. One objective of the study is to understand if the integration of EV charging solutions into Metro’s system will enhance the transit experience for patrons and attract others to consider charge and ride in their daily commutes.

“This is the first study of its kind to analyze the integration of EV solutions into a transit network,” said Jordan Ramer, CEO of EV Connect. “The data procured from this study will establish industry benchmarks on charge and ride commuters which will help shape the future of multi modal transportation."

About EV Connect, Inc.

EV Connect, an EV industry veteran and visionary, delivers best of breed electric vehicle infrastructure solutions (EVISs), applying its deep expertise to help OEMs design, engineer, install and maintain EV infrastructures. EV Connect is working to unify charging technologies in order to build a seamless Electric Superhighway. Based in Huntington Beach, California, EV Connect is driving EV adoption forward for commercial customers and EV industry partners alike. For more information please visit www.evconnect.com.

About the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies, serving as the regional transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder, operator, and funding partner for Los Angeles County. Metro’s core mission is to ensure the continuous improvement of an efficient and effective transportation system for Los Angeles County. Metro has emerged as a leader in advancing and implementing sustainability initiatives and has received national recognition for its unique approach to solving sustainable transportation related issues. Please visit www.metro.net/sustainability for more information.

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