The transportation sector is our nation’s largest contributor to greenhouse gas pollution. Earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed that the New York State EVolve NY Charger Network, an initiative announced in July to “accelerate the deployment of more than 50,000 charging stations by 2025,” has installed four new Direct Current Fast Chargers in Dutchess County. This expansion of charging stations right here in the mid-Hudson Valley is an exciting reason for us at p+d to celebrate Climate Week, a New York State initiative to spread awareness about climate change and educate residents of the state on ways we may lower our carbon footprints.
An electric car charger was installed even closer to home for us, at the Town of Wallkill Town Hall, just minutes away from our Middletown, NY office. The charger was provided and installed by General Electric (GE) as part of the Town’s Solar Field Project. GE commissioned a 2.4 megawatts solar generation project in June 2016 and provided the charger and required electric power to the Town free of cost.
p+d’s principal and president Jason A. Pitingaro, PE recently purchased a 2019 Volkswagon e-golf, which has a battery range of 186 miles, perfect for his daily commutes to and from our office. Thanks to the electric car charger at the Wallkill Town Hall, Jason never has to worry about running low on charge.
After owning a Prius hybrid since 2008, I thought it was time to take the next step and go fully electric. There are still State rebates and federal incentives, and with the cost of gas continually in flux, it just made sense. Plus, since our office is right next door to the Town of Wallkill and they have such a great system available, it really is convenient. – Jason
In honor of Climate Week, and to celebrate the efforts in the Mid-Hudson Valley to lower our carbon footprint within the transportation sector, we explore the history, usage trends, and benefits of driving electric cars:
Though electric cars may seem like an invention of the future, the very first electric car actually debuted sometime around 1828. One of the first iterations of the electric car came in the form of an electric carriage which was “powered by non-rechargeable primary cells.” Years later, the electric car, after several advancements and modernizations, was very briefly considered America’s preferred vehicle; Medium reports that “one-third of all vehicles on the road” in 1899 were electric vehicles, and that “New York City even had its own fleet of more than 60 electric taxis.”
Since the turn of the (nineteenth) century, the electric car has waned in popularity: as of October 2018, it was reported that 1 million electric cars had been sold since the United States started more thoroughly pursuing the electric vehicle market. While 1 million may sound like a large number, Scientific American provides some context: “EVs still only represent just over 1 percent of the country’s vehicle fleet.”
Despite the fact that electric cars make up the minority of America’s vehicle fleet, there is no shortage of companies producing them. Early this year, U.S. News provided a comprehensive list of the best electric cars of 2020, naming the well-known brands Fiat, Honda, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Kia, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Audi and Jaguar as among the best producers of certain models.
The ideal consumers for electric cars are those who have easy access to charging stations, whether at home, at their place of business, or at a nearby public facility such as a mall or gas station, those who do not need to worry about traveling a far distance in one trip, and those who are seeking ways to lower their carbon footprint. Ipsos, an independent market research company, conducted a study in 2017 that posed the question, “Is There a Target Market for Electric Vehicles?” The researchers found that while the market is quite narrow, with millennials comprising most of the EV community because of their “broad tech knowledge,” “Adoption among consumers can also be enhanced with advances in battery technology and expanded charging station infrastructure.”
So where can an EV owner charge their car in New York State? The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s website offers an interactive charging station locator map that allows users to input their zip code, fuel type, charger type, and connector type. Having to frequently scope out locations to fuel up your car may prove burdensome for drivers, but there are several benefits to owning an electric vehicle. As enumerated by the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs “reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change and smog, improving public health and reducing ecological damage.” EVs can also save you money!
Lastly, some humor, free of charge:
Q: What do you call someone who stole an electric car?
A: A Joule Thief!