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Connecticut aims for 25,000 electric vehicles by 2020

Connecticut has been selected as one of the launch markets for the Chevy Volt extended-range plug-in electric vehicle

Connecticut has set its sights on putting 25,000 electric vehicles on its roads by 2020.

An advisory group has delivered a series of recommendations to Governor M Jodi Rell for policy measures that might help to attract electric car ownership and encourage electric vehicle manufacturers and dealers to set up in the state.

The Governor’s Electric Vehicles Infrastructure Council has called for incentives to support the purchase of electric vehicle and public-private partnerships to develop recharging infrastructure.

Appointed last November, the Council recommended incentives including sales tax exemptions for electric vehicles, tax credits and grants for infrastructure projects, and funding for research and development efforts.

It also calls for programs focused on infrastructure development, including establishment of charging stations at key public sites, and an electric vehicle procurement program for state and university fleets.

The Council also recommended working with neighboring states to take a regional approach to establishing a charging network.

Measures could be included within 2011 legislative proposals.

Governor Rell said: “I want our state to be, essentially, a magnet for all facets of the electric vehicle industry – from manufacturers, to component suppliers, to auto dealers.

“The blueprint from the EV council and the industry relationships we have made will allow us to attract and create jobs for an industry with great potential as we put more EVs onto our roads and in our garages,” she added.

Target market

Connecticut is already among the top 10 US states for hybrid electric vehicles, with 1.21 vehicles per 1,000 residents – above the 0.87 national average, while the Californian rate is 1.54.

The state was selected back in July to be one of the early target markets for the Chevrolet Volt (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

The EV Infrastructure Council said that even an optimistic view on the adoption of electric vehicles in New England would not cause “unmanageable” issues regarding the reliability of the electricity grid.

Electric vehicles will generally cost more than equivalent gasoline-powered cars up front, the report notes, but better reliability and lower energy costs would mean savings for drivers in running costs.

The report cited industry figures as suggesting gas-powered cars cost around $1,800 a year to run at $3 per gallon and 25 miles per gallon – 12 cents per mile – while equivalent electric vehicles would cost $396 per year to run, based on 11 cents per kWh electricity prices – or a little over two cents per mile costs.

Governor Rell said the EV Council’s goals tie in to the national goal of 1 million EVs on U.S. roads by 2015. The Obama administration has committed more than $4 billion to support design, manufacture and purchase of EVs.