Washington State Expands Electric Car Incentive Program

A new law signed by Washington governor Jay Inslee makes two important changes to the state’s electric car incentive program. The changes add plug-in hybrid cars, provided they have at least 30 miles of range. It also raises the maximum sale price from $35,000 to $42,500. Not coincidentally, the higher sale price will allow several cars like the Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF SL, and the upcoming Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt to qualify for the state incentive of $3,100. The rebate is available whether the car is purchased or leased.

Curiously, the changes do not go into effect until July 1, meaning sales of higher end electric and plug-in cars will probably have a lull in Washington over the next 10 weeks or so. JJ McCoy, legislative director for the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association tells Inside EVs,

“This bill will help get more Washington residents behind the wheel of a great EV. Several exciting mid-market cars with 200 miles of range will be in showrooms soon, and Washington’s incentive will give them a boost. Electric vehicles have a host of benefits – lower carbon emissions, lower fueling costs, better air quality – but they still cost more to make than an equivalent gas car,” McCoy said.

“As car makers scale up battery production and prices fall, EVs will soon be able to compete un-subsidized and provide a compelling value proposition. Fueling up costs just $0.85 a ‘gallon’ on Washington electricity rates, so once you have the car, you’re saving money with every mile. They’re also just a lot of fun to drive. We find that once people try an EV, they never they never want to go back to their gas car.”

The rebate program is scheduled to end on July 1, 2019, or one month after Washington sells 7,500 EVs that qualify for the exemption. McCoy says current estimates, based on the rate of electric car sales in his home state, are that there will be 7,500 qualified EVs on the road by the middle of 2018. If you are planning to buy an EV and live in the state of Washington, the time to act is now if you want to save an additional $3,100 on the purchase price of your car.

Photo credit: Seattle Electric Vehicle Association

BYD Buses Win Washington Electric Bus Contract

Never heard of BYD? You’re not alone. The Chinese company is big in its home country but less well know elsewhere, especially in the United States. But Warren Buffett is a major stockholder and BYD has built more electric buses than any company in history. It also operates a fleet of electric crossovers in selected US cities as part of local carsharing services, including 200 in Chicago used by Uber drivers.

The Department of Transportation in Washington wrapped up a bid proposal for up to 800 electric buses in 12 different categories in August. BYD buses has been awarded the contract in 10 of those categories. The contract has the potential to be the biggest in US history, since it includes buses from 30 to 60 feet in length for both highway and intra-city applications, as well as long- and short-range on-route charging configurations.

According to Electric Cars Report, BYD is the only bus manufacturer with wireless on-route charging as an option approved by the Washington DOT. This is seen as a visionary move by the state of Washington State, one that clearly establishes it as one of the most environmentally conscious states in the nation. Any transit agency or public institution in Washington, as well as the state of Oregon, is now able to procure electric buses from the RFP, which will greatly simplify the procurement process.

BYD employs more than 15,000 R&D engineers. It has developed a proprietary iron-phosphate battery which boasts the only 12-year battery warranty in the industry. Combined with BYD’s own in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking system, the BYD battery electric bus reportedly offers the lowest lifecycle cost of ownership. It is very quiet and ensures a comfortable ride without vibrations, jerks, or the noise associated with conventional buses and combustion engines. The bus can also drive for more than 155 miles even in heavy city traffic on a single charge.

As of April 1st, 2015, BYD bus fleets have completed more than 50 million miles of “in revenue service” and have been evaluated by more than 150 cities in 36 countries around the world.

Barcelona’s transit agency director told Gas2 director Zachary Shahan in 2013 that BYD electric buses seemed to have the same lifecycle cost of a conventional diesel bus… but without all of the health and climate problems.

Photo Credit: BYD

Kia prepping Washington and Oregon for Soul EV launch; dealers and charging network w/ fast-chargers

Kia Motors America (KMA) is continuing its progressive launch of the Soul EV and adding to the electric vehicle ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest with 20 Soul EV-certified dealers and a charging network. Of the 20 dealers in the region, 12 will be located in Washington and eight in Oregon.

In addition to each being equipped with two Level-2 chargers (40 total in the PNW region), 10 of the dealers will also be up-fitted with 50kW Signet FC50K-CC-S DC fast chargers, increasing Kia’s overall network of fast-charging stations. This fast charger can charge the Soul EV’s battery from empty to 80% in about 33 minutes. As an added value, select Kia dealers will allow Soul EV owners to charge at no cost.

Kia’s addition of six new DC fast chargers to Washington’s already-existing network of 414 DC chargers will increase fast-charger availability by 40% in the Seattle metro area and 15 percent statewide. The four new chargers added to Oregon’s current network of 815 DC fast chargers will increase fast-charger availability by 15% in the Portland metro area and 5% statewide.

Similar to California’s infrastructure program, Kia has partnered with Greenlots in the Pacific Northwest to offer flexibility and on-the-go access to large networks of charging stations. Through the Greenlots partnership, Soul EV owners will be provided a Kia “ChargeUp” Card, giving them access to multiple DC fast charger networks.

When it comes to locating charging stations, the Soul EV offers UVO EVServices, Kia’s telematics system. Available at no cost for the first five years of ownership, UVO EV Services utilizes an embedded connectivity solution powered by the Verizon wireless network and an integral smartphone app to provide Soul EV owners with an innovative, real-time, in-vehicle connectivity experience that includes navigation and a number of added convenience features.

Washington dealers authorized to sell Soul EV include Auburn Valley Kia, Auburn; Hanson Kia, Olympia; Jerry Smith Kia, Burlington; Smith Kia of Bellingham, Bellingham; Dick Hannah Kia, Vancouver; West Hills Kia, Bremerton; Kia of Puyallup, Puyallup; Performance Kia; Everett; Chuck Olson Kia, Shoreline; Renton Kia, Renton; Car Pros Kia, Tacoma; Lee Johnson Kia, Kirkland.

Oregon dealers authorized to sell Soul EV include Kiefer Kia, Eugene; Butler Kia, Medford; Weston Kia, Gresham; Team Kia of Bend, Bend; Beaverton Kia, Beaverton; Ron Tonkin Kia, Gladstone; Power Kia, Salem; Broadway Kia, Portland.

The 2016 Soul EV is Kia’s first all-electric car to be sold in the US. The Soul EV earned an EPA-estimated range rating of 93 miles (150 km) when the 27 kWh, 360 V, 192-cell lithium-ion polymer battery is fully charged. The regenerative braking system captures up to 12% of the Soul EV’s kinetic energy when coasting and braking to also help recharge the battery.

Soul EV owners can choose between four different regeneration modes: “Drive” or “Brake” modes in Eco-mode “Off,” and “Drive” or “Brake” modes in Eco-mode “On” (the “Brake” setting with Eco-mode “On” produces the most regeneration).

The Li-ion battery features a nickel-cobalt-manganese cathode, which helps increase capacity, and a graphite-based anode, which increases durability while reducing weight. Additionally, the cells use a gel electrolyte, and each cell contains ceramic separators to improve thermal stability and safety.

The Soul EV plugs into any standard 120v outlet or a conventional 240v EV charger. Two charging ports are standard, including a SAE J1772 port for Level-1 and Level-2 AC charging, and a CHAdeMO 480v DC fast-charging port, both found behind a sliding door located in the grille.

U.S. Capitol gets first public charging station, frustratingly late for Sen. Levin

Ironically enough, even as Washington approved funding electric vehicle charging stations around the country, it dragged its feet on having them installed in the nation's capital. That's going to change, and it has taken surprisingly hard work in Congress to get the stations approved.

Last Thursday, the president signed two measures – one that deals with constructing, operating, and maintaining stations in parking areas for use by privately owned vehicles at no net cost to the government; and separate legislation that allows charging stations on the U.S. Senate site. Users of the parking area charging stations will pay maintenance and building fees, so the cost to taxpayers is zero.

U.S. Senator Carl Levin, D-MI, has been fighting since October 2010 to have charging stations installed in Washington, and it's been a frustrating experience for him. Driving his Chevrolet Volt to work and not having a charging station at his Capitol Hill home, convinced him to push it through.

Last fall, Levin requested approval from the Architect of the Capitol, which oversees the grounds and buildings, to have public charging stations approved. He was told that would require legislation, which he then led through Congress. "The federal government is wisely encouraging Americans and auto manufacturers to embrace the next generation of auto technology. I think we should lead by example," Levin told the Detroit News.

The charging stations should see bipartisan use. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-TN, owns an electric Nissan Leafand represents a state where Leafs will soon be built.



Source: Autoblog Green