In the Driver’s Seat Blog

Last year, 2018, will certainly go down as a landmark year in the history of the electric car. It wasn’t long ago that most Americans (except our small, motivated community of EV enthusiasts) considered personal ownership of electric car a complete non-starter or had no idea that electric cars were[…]

Rivian, a new Michigan-based EV startup, has just debuted their R1T all-electric truck at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It’s quite an impressive truck, with a 400-mile range, four 200-horsepower electric motors, 11,000 pound towing capacity, 160 kW fast charger that promises 200 miles of range in 30 minutes, and[…]

The Chevrolet Volt, one of the most iconic and important electric cars of the 21st century, will be history after 2019. Since it originally went on sale in December 2010, it has occupied a unique position in the American plug-in car lineup as the only true extended range electric vehicle[…]

Ten years ago, skeptics said that electric cars were just fancy golf carts that couldn’t go on the freeway, weren’t any fun to drive and didn’t have any sense of style. That was before the Model S came out. Then they said, sure, you can hand build a few EVs,[…]

With 2019 fast approaching, Americans across the country head to their local auto shows and dealerships to see the latest and greatest in the automotive world. Here at Plug In America, we know that the truly latest and greatest 2019 models have one thing in common: they’re all electric. Whether[…]

There are now one million electric cars on the road in America. Where We Go From Here The future of the electric car is fairly certain: there’s going to be a lot more of them on America’s roads. For the millionth (ha!) time: EVs are not a fad. So we[…]

We’re finally here: one million electric cars sold in America.  In this blog post, we look back at how far we’ve come, from the early days of Tesla Roadsters, RAV4 EVs and EV1s to the multitude of excellent electric models on the market today. We asked a few of the many[…]

Plug In America has been hard at work fighting the federal government’s attempt to roll back the clean car standards—a direct attack on electric vehicles. (If you haven’t yet signed that petition, please do so before the October 26 deadline!) But we also work with state governments to ensure our[…]

Tesla has, as of September 30, sold more than 78,000 Model 3s in the United States. If fourth quarter 2018 sales can match third quarter (and there is no reason to think they won’t), then Tesla Model 3 sales for 2018 would stand at 132,000. Oh, and for September, the[…]

On Monday, September 24, EV drivers and Plug In America gathered in Fresno, CA to rally against the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation proposal to roll back the clean car standards and attack the single largest policy driver of EV sales today, in advance of the public hearing[…]

As this year’s National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) comes to a close, we look back on a monumental week where over 300 events across six countries and all 50 states showcased electric cars to the general public.  Taken together, this is the result of months of tireless preparation by not[…]

Last week, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed a bill setting a 100 percent clean electricity goal and issued an executive order to achieve total carbon neutrality by 2045. Plug In America applauds Gov. Brown for this action and affirms that transportation electrification, including electric cars, buses, trucks and[…]

We all know that plug-in vehicles are great for daily commutes, but are EVs a viable option for those who want to hit the road and see America? We asked EV drivers to submit their road trip stories and were overwhelmed by the response! Below are just a few of[…]

The first annual Drive Electric Awards will be presented to three National Drive Electric Week event organizers, two individuals and one organization, honoring each of their significant contributions to electric vehicle movement. The 2018 Drive Electric Award winners are: National Drive Electric Week Event Organizers Each of these event organizers[…]

On Thursday, August 16, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) took the first step toward establishing the Colorado Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program, incorporating the requirements of the California LEV program. This is in response to an Executive Order from Governor Hickenlooper to maintain progress on clean vehicles despite the[…]

The Clean Vehicle Assistance Program provides grants and affordable financing to help low- to moderate-income Californians purchase a new or used hybrid or electric vehicle. The program’s goal is to make clean vehicles accessible and affordable to all who qualify and in doing so improve air quality for all. The[…]

On August 2, the Trump administration proposed rolling back clean car standards and revoking the authority of states to set stronger limits on vehicle emissions. In response, Plug In America is joining a lawsuit against the federal government to defend clean air, national security, public health, and the global climate.[…]

We all know that plug-in vehicles are great for daily commutes, but are EVs a viable option for those who want to hit the road and see America? We asked EV drivers to submit their road trip stories and were overwhelmed by the response! Below are just a few of[…]

Update 7/31/2018: We’ve posted many of the incredible responses we’ve received at Plug-In road trips across America! Summer is here and many drivers are heading out on road trips in their electric vehicles. There is a misconception that road trips are impossible in EVs, so we want hear your story![…]

Plug In America has worked with California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi to introduce House Resolution 117, the EV Driver Bill of Rights. The resolution outlines the rights of EV drivers relating to the purchase process for a new or used EV, as well as the rights EV drivers can expect for[…]

National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), to be held September 8–16, 2018, is a celebration of electric vehicles from coast to coast. Last year, we reached more than 120,000 people through 276 events in all 50 states and we’re currently on track to surpass last year! NDEW events are created by[…]

I’ll admit it: Just a few months ago, I knew almost nothing about electric vehicles. I had heard about Tesla and knew there were a few other EVs on the market, but I never took the time to learn about how they work or why they’re a better option. I[…]

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 13 years since a handful of us early EV advocates founded Plug In America, coming off of our unsuccessful effort to save the last of the EV1s from the crusher and our somewhat more successful effort to save the remaining original Toyota RAV4[…]

On June 28, Plug In America brought the latest makes and models of EVs to Capitol Hill for the second annual U.S. Senate EV Ride and Drive. Hosted in partnership with the Senate Auto Caucus, the event was attended by Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), Rep. David[…]

As the electric vehicle (EV) market moves from the early adopter phase to the mass market stage, smart and supportive policies can help to accelerate the widespread adoption of EVs at the local and state levels. The most effective policies driving adoption of these vehicles today include HOV lane access,[…]

It is standard business logic than when a market is growing quickly, an ambitious business should devote its efforts to capturing market share. Profits can wait for later. It is much easier to find new customers when they are coming into the market for the first time. It is far[…]

Plug in America is excited to have a new full-time staff member in Boston, Peter O’Connor, who is working on the ground to advance plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) legislation in the Northeast. Here are a few highlights. New Jersey The Garden State has multiple PEV bills moving through the legislature.[…]

Access to HOV lanes in California has been a powerful non-financial incentive that helps drivers make the switch to a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV). Nevertheless, California amended its HOV lane policy so that decals are now only eligible to remain on the PEVs for three years, after which the PEV[…]

Do you have a new electric car? If so, it’s party time! Specifically, you should consider hosting an Electric Driveway Party. Here’s the basic idea: park your car (and other local plug-ins, if you can get them) in your driveway, and invite anybody and everybody. Friends, neighbors, coworkers, family. Don’t[…]

Buying your first EV can be a daunting experience. Will an EV even work for me? Which car is best for my needs? How will I charge it? How much will the electricity cost? And what incentives will I get? Often, shoppers will take these questions to the car dealer,[…]

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency took a huge step backwards by weakening fuel efficiency standards. What does this mean for the electric car market? First, this announcement will set off a new round of collecting evidence, comments, and hearings through a public stakeholder process, which will take some time[…]

Residents of Alaska, a state better known for its oil industry, are increasingly switching to electric vehicles. The state benefits from an abundance of hydroelectric power, while gas prices are among the highest in the nation, making EVs a particularly attractive option for utilizing resources and saving money. Additionally, Alaska[…]

We are excited to introduce four new staff members that recently joined the Plug In America team! Kathryn Urquhart, program manager for consumer engagement, is helping manage our PlugStar EV dealer program. She comes to PIA with 10 years of experience focusing on the confluence of transportation policies, environmental policies,[…]

We recently had the opportunity to sit down for a Q&A with Jay Friedland, one of Plug In America’s board members, and a strong advocate of electric motorcycles. We talked with Jay about why electric motorcycles are great, what incentives are available, and what Plug In America is doing to[…]

Update:  Plug In America Friends, Congress voted February 9 on a budget deal that included a number of tax credit extensions that had previously expired. For EV Drivers, we had two small victories! First, the 30% tax credit for charging stations was extended until Dec. 31, 2017. While clearly this[…]

Posted with permission from PIA Board member Michael Thwait, with minor edits. Originally published on Facebook Notes.  The pioneering days of Electric Vehicles (EVs) are over for us, will I miss them? Nine years ago I plonked down all of my spare cash for the nuttiest of ideas around –[…]

By Yair Crane In December 2017, I had the pleasure of co-leading the first New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Trade Mission to China from the United States since China declared an imminent ban on diesel and gas vehicles. (New energy vehicle is the Chinese term for all alternative fuel vehicles.) Visits to Shanghai, Jiangsu, and[…]

The staff and board at Plug In America teamed up to make some bold predictions for the year ahead for the electric car. What do you think? Too bold? Not bold enough? Chime in with your own in the comments below. California will announce phase out of gasoline vehicles. California[…]

It was only a few years ago that many people dismissed electric cars as rattle-trap golf carts that could barely go on the highway. That was before Tesla demonstrated that a well-engineered electric car could beat the pants off of any gas car on the market for raw acceleration. We[…]