|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Electric Vehicle Incentive ExtendedGOLETA, CA — Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) announced today the extension of its Electric Vehicle (EV) Buydown Program for another year. Individuals or fleet operators can receive $5,000 towards the purchase or lease price of a new EV to be operated in Santa Barbara County. The following EVs are currently qualified under the program: General Motors (GM) EV-1, Honda EV Plus, GM S-10 EV pickup, Toyota RAV4 EV, Solectria Force sedan, and Ford Ranger EV pickup. "Keeping this program going allows us to take advantage of the growing momentum in our county for this technology," remarked APCD Engineer Gary Hoffman. He noted that the county currently has six public or commercial EV charging sites with nine chargers. Most offer limited public charging, and most were installed in 1998. Last year, the City of Santa Barbara installed the first public charging station in the city, in a parking lot downtown (Lot 7, near the entrance from Anacapa and Figueroa streets). Two chargers were installed, to accommodate both inductive and conductive EV charging. Costco installed two charging stations—the first retail public charging stations in the county—at its new Goleta warehouse, which opened late last year. "We support EV technology and its benefits for our air and our environment," said Ed Fitzgerald, Automobile Sales Administrator for Costco Wholesale. He explained that EV charging stations have been installed at 35 Costco outlets in California and Arizona. He added, "We welcome the APCD Board’s decision to extend this program, and believe more and more consumers are recognizing the benefits of EVs, especially now that the technology is reaching maturity." Hoffman noted, "One study showed that 85% of all California households drive less than 75 miles a day. Today’s EVs can easily accommodate these consumers’ driving needs." He emphasized that when consumers purchase or lease EVs, typically a household charger is included in the price. APCD and a host of public and private organizations and agencies are involved in a county-wide initiative known as the Partnership for Clean Cities in Santa Barbara County. The group is submitting an application to the federal Department of Energy for the county to receive designation as "Clean Cities" area. This designation will make more federal funding available to expand local use of alternative-fueled vehicles, including EVs, and build up the alternative fuel infrastructure for clean transportation options, including for additional public EV charging stations. According to Hoffman, cars and trucks are responsible for more than half of the air pollution from human activity in the county. EVs provide a substantial air quality benefit, even taking into account utility emissions for power generation. Last year, APCD received a loaner EV-1, provided by GM. The agency has taken the car to area schools and community and business events. Hoffman expects to continue these efforts, and to invite more manufacturers to sponsor EV test drives in the county in the coming year. The $5,000 incentives are funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) with matching funds provided by APCD from monies earmarked for vehicle emission reduction efforts. The closest participating dealerships for county residents are Saturn of Oxnard (GM EV1), Miller Honda of Van Nuys (Honda EV Plus), Barber Ford of Ventura (Ford Ranger EV pickup), Toyota Motor Sales, USA in Torrance (Toyota RAV-4 EV), and Gunderson Chevrolet in El Monte (S-10 EV pickup, marketed only to fleet buyers). On January 21 the APCD Board of Directors extended the Electric Vehicle Buydown Program to January 31, 2000. For more information, contact Gary Hoffman, at 961-8818. |
