In the Driver’s Seat Blog

Supporting a transition to clean, electrified transportation is one of the most effective ways that we can cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce localized air pollution in California. Since 2007, California has funded key programs, like the Clean Transportation Program, that invest millions each year across an array of transportation[…]

1. EVs are Better for the Environment Over the course of their lifetimes, EVs generate less than half of the GHG emissions of comparable gasoline-powered vehicles. This includes all of the resources used in manufacturing the vehicle, the battery, and powering the vehicle. In addition, electricity in the U.S. keeps[…]

This Valentine’s Day, share your love for your EV on Instagram or Facebook for a chance to win a $100 gift card. Why do you love your car? Is it because it has no emissions or is a blast to drive? Maybe it’s the fact that it’s cheaper to fuel,[…]

We are thrilled to announce that the Scottsdale City Council voted last week to update their building codes with EV charging requirements for new construction. PIA Board Member Raejean Fellows gave passionate testimony at the City Council meeting (her testimony begins at 1 hour, 2 minutes), pointing out the many[…]

Plug In America is proud to honor individuals, groups, and large organizations for their important work advancing EVs. We present the Drive Electric Awards to those nominated and recognized for their leadership each year, such as U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for his work in advancing EV legislation[…]

A vote for Proposition 30 is a vote for clean air in California. If passed, Prop. 30 will impose a small 1.75% personal income tax increase on only the wealthiest Californians (those making more than $2 million per year). This initiative will generate between $3.5 billion to $5 billion annually[…]

Update on March 13, 2023: Check out our tax credit resources for vehicles delivered between Aug. 17, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2022 and those delivered on and after Jan. 1, 2023. What the new EV tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act mean for you It’s been a big couple[…]

For more than a decade, Plug In America’s top policy priority has been to extend and expand the federal EV tax credits. This week, a bill to do just that was signed by President Biden. In some respects, the Inflation Reduction Act is less than we would have hoped for,[…]

The EV Charging for All Coalition (which includes Plug In America, Acterra, California Interfaith Power and Light, and many other organizations) is proud to co-sponsor a key bill, SB 1482 (Allen), to reduce barriers to the equitable adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in California. Help us pass SB 1482 for[…]

California regulators are fine-tuning a set of proposed draft rules that would ban the sale of gas and diesel vehicles by 2035. The proposed Advanced Clean Cars II Regulations (ACC II), if adopted, will tighten existing state regulations to reduce vehicle emissions under a wider range of conditions, ensure battery[…]

With record-setting gasoline prices across the nation, many drivers are considering EVs for the first time. Searches for new plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles are at peak levels, increasing exponentially since energy prices began to soar in March 2022. Global supply chain challenges continue to limit the production of new[…]

Over the past decade, consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States has increased exponentially, with consideration for EVs amongst prospective drivers reaching an all-time high. Accordingly, the federal government is investing in a national charging network to provide equitable access to EV charging across the country. Given[…]

Exciting news! Right now, we have a key opportunity to ensure equity for residents of apartments and condos in the next CALGreen building code cycle. Speak up today if you agree that California’s multi-family residents – who are more likely to be low-wealth, BIPOC, and/or more burdened with air pollution – deserve the same[…]

Toyota made great environmental strides almost 25 years ago when they introduced the world to the Prius hybrid. The Prius was revolutionary for its time, but as we electrify our transportation system, hybrids alone won’t cut it. It’s time for Toyota to be a leader again and step up its production[…]

Congress recently passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which includes $7.5 billion in dedicated funding to help make public EV charging stations accessible to all Americans. Although more and more people are buying EVs, there is still apprehension around battery longevity and charging availability. As more people consider or make the[…]

Plug In America’s PlugStar electric vehicle dealer training program has greatly expanded in recent weeks with new exciting new programs in partnership with DoorDash, Kia, and Wells Fargo. In the San Francisco Bay Area, PlugStar is partnering with DoorDash to drive and scale up the adoption of EVs among delivery[…]

The EV Charging for All coalition continues to make progress; if you live in California, we need your support this week! Thanks to a massive coalition effort, our EV Charging Equity bill, SB1482, passed out of the Assembly Housing Committee on June 29. Seventy-eight organizations and 87 individuals signed onto[…]

On June 9, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a hearing on the Advanced Clean Cars II program. The current Advanced Clean Cars program has been adopted by 17 other states but will end in 2025. Under this program, automakers must sell EVs in these states. Thank you to[…]

For many years, Plug In America has been giving consumers the opportunity to test drive and learn about electric vehicles through National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric Earth Day, and EV ride and drive events throughout the year. With the advent of COVID-19, we quickly pivoted and successfully transitioned nearly[…]

Advanced Clean Cars, also known as Clean Cars Standards, is a set of standards designed to put more zero-emission vehicles on the road and improve air quality. These standards are created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), but have since also been adopted by 17 other states, including Nevada,[…]

The Global EV Drivers’ Alliance, comprised of EV driver associations in nearly 40 countries around the world, including Plug In America, has released the following statement: We need to speak the truth. The Russian war against Ukraine is being paid for by exports of oil and gas, just like all[…]

There are no words to adequately describe the kind and brilliantly effective persuasion that Kathy Lynch, our long-time partner in advocacy for Plug In America, brought when lobbying for all EV drivers in California. And there are no words that can adequately describe the deep and profound loss we feel[…]

On March 31, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reversed the Trump administration’s actions by issuing more stringent fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicle model years 2024 to 2026. Plug In America commends the administration for making internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles more fuel-efficient. This is an important step in[…]

As electric vehicles gain popularity and automakers invest billions of dollars, they are bringing new jobs and economic growth to communities across the United States. With more people transitioning to EVs, more jobs are being created to build out infrastructure such as factories and EV charging networks. Given that there[…]

New mail trucks to be equipped with 8-track tape players, rotary dial phones and manual hand-crank windows Across the U.S., more and more companies are transitioning their fleets to modern electric vehicles. Bucking that trend, the United States Postal Service has chosen to double down on more traditional technology with[…]

Plug In America watchers know that Drive Electric Earth Day (DEED), celebrated for the entire month of April, is an extension of September’s National Drive Electric Week (NDEW). But how did NDEW come about? It all started with President Barack Obama and, as DEED begins, we’re taking the opportunity to[…]

Plug In America is growing! To meet the increasing demand for electric vehicles, we are excited to welcome five new staff members to our team. Chelsea Alexander, Director of Development   Sydney Frazier-Flores, Program Assistant   Alexia Melendez Martineau, Policy Manager   Rosa Mitsumasu Scotti, Program Manager   Derrick Vargas,[…]

With record-setting gasoline prices across the nation, an increasing number of drivers are considering EVs. Searches for new plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles are at record levels, increasing by over 60% since the beginning of March according to a report by MarketWatch. However, as the global supply chain faces new[…]

On March 11, at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas, Plug In America announced that it is partnering with NADA and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to educate franchised auto dealerships nationwide on electric vehicles. This will greatly improve the EV buying experience and make[…]

We need to speak the truth. The Russian war against Ukraine is being paid for by exports of oil and gas, just like all of Putin’s previous wars. If everybody in the world drove electric vehicles and their electricity came from renewables, this war would probably not be happening. And[…]

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently announced the creation of a national EV charging network with $5 billion in funding to be distributed to states. The network will prioritize charging stations along highways, giving EV drivers the ability to travel long distances without worrying about access[…]

Once again, electric vehicles took the spotlight during the Super Bowl, with several ads touting both vehicles and charging equipment. Take a look at these ads below and let us know what you think in the comments! BMW  General Motors   Kia Nissan While this ad doesn’t focus on[…]

PlugStar, a service offered by Plug In America, assists consumers and dealers with finding and selling EVs. What sets PlugStar apart from similar programs is its ecosystem approach that assists users from start to finish. There is PlugStar.com, our consumer-facing EV information and shopping site. On the site, a consumer[…]

While fires in electric vehicles (EVs) have made headlines in recent years, data from the U.S. government and analyzed by AutoinsuranceEZ point out that EVs have a very low fire risk compared to gasoline and traditional hybrid vehicles, even when accounting for the fact that there are more gasoline and[…]

As we head into the beginning of 2022, there are a number of exciting new electric vehicle models on the market. These highly-anticipated EVs have recently made their debut and are now available to consumers. From a truck that can handle any terrain to a luxury car with more than[…]

We had hoped that Congress would pass the historic EV provisions in the Build Back Better Act before the end of 2021. Plug In America and its members have devoted tremendous energy to that effort this year, pinging Congress more than 35,000 times in the past 12 months. That has[…]

For electric vehicles, 2021 has been the year America changed course—although we still haven’t traveled too far down that course. This has been the year that a lot of promises were made. We have yet to deliver on most of those promises, but promises are a start. Plus, a lot[…]

Earlier today, more than 100 governments, automakers, fleets, and other organizations released a declaration calling for sales of all new cars and vans to be zero-emission by 2040 and no later than 2035 in leading markets. Joel Levin, chair of the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance and executive director of Plug[…]

“I am one of you.” That’s what Secretary Pete Buttigieg told me last month when I met him at our Washington D.C. event and explained that Plug In America members are EV consumers. I told him our goal is to represent the interests of consumers as Congress moves forward (hopefully)[…]

Plug In America has partnered with Avista, an electric utility based in Spokane, to bring our innovative PlugStar dealer engagement program to Eastern Washington. The PlugStar Program is nationally recognized for educating consumers and dealers about electric vehicles (EVs), making it easy to shift to an EV. Since starting our[…]

As global leaders are heading to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, EV drivers from the 28 countries represented in the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance (GEVA), including Plug In America, are calling for all new cars and light-duty vehicles sold in their countries to have a plug by[…]

On Friday, October 22, the Nevada Legislative Commission voted 8-4 in favor of accepting the Clean Cars Nevada program, making it the 16th state in the nation to adopt clean car standards. The clean car standards make electric vehicles (EVs) more widely available to Nevada residents. Plug In America has[…]

Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 500 into law, requiring that all autonomous vehicles (AVs) be electric vehicles (EVs). This is groundbreaking legislation that Plug In America was pushing for. Many believe that autonomous vehicles are the way of the future, with all vehicles being self-driving. If that[…]

Plug In America would like to recognize Nissan for supporting National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) as the Platinum Sponsor for a decade. Nissan first began supporting NDEW when it was still a relatively small campaign, then known as National Plug-In Day. The campaign could not have grown to encompass hundreds[…]

They say real friends stick together through thick and thin. So what do we call volunteers who have stuck with EVs for more than a decade? I like to call them CHAMPIONS. As we head into another National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), I hope all of our volunteers feel like[…]

On August 25, 2021, Plug In America Executive Director Joel Levin testified at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing on vehicle emissions, calling for 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Below is his testimony. Good morning. I’m Joel Levin, Executive Director of Plug In America, the national association of electric vehicle drivers.[…]

In the wake of President Biden’s historic proposal for electric vehicles, two major implications for the future of electric vehicles are happening—implications that you can voice your opinion on NOW. If you haven’t already taken action, go to RealEVChange.org and contribute to PIA’s fundraising campaign to pressure Washington to do the[…]

Plug In America applauds the state of Minnesota and Gov. Tim Walz for adopting the clean car standards, which require that automakers sell zero-emission vehicles in the state. The law will significantly increase the number of electric vehicles (EVs) available to Minnesotans, giving them greater consumer choice. This makes Minnesota[…]

Various states across the United States offer electric vehicle (EV) purchase incentives to help accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles. Below is a list of the top 10 states who provide valuable incentives. Find out if your state is on the list! For a list of incentives available in your[…]

The results of the 2021 Independence Day EV Count are in! Every year during the 4th of July weekend, Plug In America supporters take a stroll around their neighborhoods to count how many all-electric and plug-in hybrids they can spot. Across the United States, we counted 11,568 vehicles, of which[…]

We’re only halfway through 2021 and it’s already a big year for new EV models. While there are many highly-anticipated vehicles that are scheduled to come out in 2022 and beyond, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, below is an update on new vehicles that have debuted in 2021 and what[…]

Last week, 37 electric vehicle (EV) driver associations from 26 countries, including Plug In America, joined forces to create the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance, building a worldwide EV community. The grassroots, non-profit organization collects best practices, inspiration, and information from EV driver associations and their members to help, inform, and[…]

This week, President Joe Biden visited the Ford Motor Company Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, getting a preview of the all-electric version of their F-150 pickup truck, which is the highest-selling vehicle in the country. “The future of the auto industry is electric,” said President Biden. “There’s no[…]

Plug In America’s PlugStar EV consumer and dealer engagement program, in partnership with SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), recently celebrated some of the program’s outstanding dealers in recognition of their commitment to EV sales. Dealers and their sales staff were honored with trophies, plaques, and food trucks in honor of[…]

We live in some exciting times. Or as Dickens might have put it, it is the best of times and it is the worst of times. There has been so much head-snapping EV news coming from Washington that I don’t even know where to start, but I’ll share some of[…]

On March 31st, the Biden-Harris Administration released the American Jobs Plan, a comprehensive plan to upgrade the transportation infrastructure within the U.S. The plan covers rail, freight, bridges, highways and of course, a large focus on transportation electrification. This is the down payment on the future of transportation. What exactly[…]

Last week, Joel Levin, Plug In America’s executive director, participated in a roundtable discussion on electric vehicles with several members of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the committee responsible for all changes to tax laws. This was an exciting first for Plug In America and shows how our[…]

During Sunday’s Super Bowl, General Motors ran an advertisement for their slate of electric vehicles with actor Will Ferrell, in which he comedically challenges Norway as the global leader in electric vehicles. Below, Plug In America Executive Director Joel Levin responds in his own video. Our friends at the Norwegian[…]

The new Administration is off to a great start! The existential threat of climate change is finally getting the federal attention it requires. On January 27, President Biden issued a wide-ranging executive order that declared an all-of-government approach to fighting climate change, integrating it into actions across every agency and[…]

ABI Research released their 2021 Trend Report and determined that 2021 will be a pivotal year for EVs. With new electric vehicle adoption policies and bans on internal combustion engines rising around the world, the pressure to develop new EV models is also rising. While there are dozens of new[…]

If you purchased a new electric vehicle (EV) or charging equipment in 2020, you may be eligible to receive valuable tax credits. If you have questions regarding these tax credits, we recommend that you consult your tax advisor. The federal EV tax credit provides a credit of up to $7,500,[…]

It’s not a simple thing to speak of 2020—and just talk about EVs. It is the year that everyone hates and prays for it to end. It is the year that most people will always cite as the worst one in their lives. It’s the year that one in a[…]

Winter solstice has swept in, and me and my electric vehicle (EV) are taking another trip around the sun—on sunshine! My ex and I got solar at home on his birthday in 2002, then our first EV, the RAV4, a couple months later, on the winter solstice. Won’t ever forget[…]

In this short video, Executive Director Joel Levin reacts to President-elect Biden’s energy plan and Plug In America’s plans to ensure that transportation electrification is a priority.

E-bikes are just like a traditional bicycle, but with an electric motor. The rider can control how much electric power they want using pedal assist, which is a mode to help you pedal faster and easier. Generally, e-bike power ranges from 250 to 900 watts with an average maximum speed[…]

This year, electric motorcycle momentum has been hot! Electric motorcycle companies have been reporting an increase in sales. For example, Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer Energica shared that in the first two months of 2020, they sold more electric motorcycles than in the year prior. There is also a new streaming[…]

Following last week’s election, Executive Director Joel Levin gives a brief update on the outlook for 2021 and how we can work together to advance electric vehicle adoption. Learn more about the 2021 EV policy landscape in our webinar, Gaining Speed: Post-Election Outlook for Transportation Electrification on Wednesday, November 18,[…]

The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya, and the Volkswagen ID.4 are all excepted to hit showroom floors in 2021! This year during National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), our online event, New EVs – First Look, featured in-depth previews of these upcoming EVs with representatives from Ford, Nissan, and Volkswagen. Watch[…]

Electric cars are better for the environment and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, wherever they are charged, and however the electricity is produced. When considering the full life cycle of the vehicle, electric cars are cleaner and greener than their conventional fossil fuel-burning counterparts. While true that building an electric[…]

Earlier this month, Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow took us on a virtual EV test drive. She used to work at Mazda and Mattel’s Hot Wheels division, so she is a strong car enthusiast and loves how fast and smooth her Chevy Bolt drives. McMorrow has a longer commute than[…]

A new Consumer Reports study shows what many of us who have been driving electric vehicles (EVs) have already known—that consumers can save money with an electric vehicle over the lifetime of the vehicle. Last year, we published our own comparison of the total cost of ownership between EVs and[…]

Get to know Plug In America’s staff and board! Assistant Program Manager Kylie Morgan has managed National Drive Electric Week and Drive Electric Earth Day for three years. How does your program contribute to Plug In America’s mission? National Drive Electric Week and Drive Electric Earth Day serve as the largest annual EV[…]

There are currently nearly 50 models of electric vehicles (EVs) available, including all-electric vehicles with a range over 200 miles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with an electric range over 30 miles. Below are a few all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles with the longest ranges. To compare all available EV models,[…]

During the 2019 National Drive Electric Week, Plug In America took part in the Charge Forward EV Relay throughout the State of New Hampshire. This began at the far north end of the state, and wound its way 267 miles from Colebook to Portsmouth. Unfortunately, this year’s event could not[…]

On Wednesday, September 23, California Governor Gavin Newsom took a huge step forward in the electric vehicle (EV) movement by calling for 100% of all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035! Plug In America has been fighting for EVs for nearly 20 years, dating back to the days[…]

National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) is in less than two weeks! This year, many NDEW events have shifted to an online format. Some events will have special guests like TV personalities Bill Nye and Jay Leno, race car driver and environmental activist Leilani Münter, and NPR host Peter Sagal. Below[…]

We have partnered with EV advocates in Nevada to create a 10-part video series about the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs). These videos were recorded during the Nevada Transportation Electrification Forum earlier this year, before the COVID-19 quarantine. Currently, four videos have been released, included below, but follow us on[…]

The 2020 Drive Electric Awards were presented during a streaming online event on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. Featuring: Remarks by Executive Director Joel Levin An update on EV policy from Policy Director Katherine Stainken A tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Linda Nicholes Acceptance speeches from Drive Electric Awards winners: Fully Charged (Robert[…]

Plug In America has announced the honorees of the 2020 Drive Electric Awards. Now in its third year, the awards honor individuals and organizations that have contributed to the electric vehicle movement. “More than 1.5 million electric vehicles have been sold in the United States and that might not have[…]

As part of our education efforts, Plug in America hosts electric vehicle (EV) ride and drive events across the country. We bring EVs to communities and highlight the benefits of driving electric. Attendees can test drive EVs without having to go to a dealership and receive educational materials, including our[…]

On August 18, Plug In America held a webinar looking at various aspects related to electric vehicle batteries, including charging best practices, battery mining and recycling, and their impacts on the electrical grid. There were so many questions asked that we couldn’t get to them all during the live presentation,[…]

A shift to autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be one part of the transition to sustainable transportation, in addition to the growing market share of electric vehicles (EVs) and the advance of shared mobility options, such as Zipcar and Envoy. These “three revolutions” working together have the greatest potential to reduce[…]

This year is the 10th anniversary of National Drive Electric Week (NDEW). At the beginning of the year, we were planning to make this a blowout year with more events than ever—recognizing the continued growth in the market, the exciting new models coming out, and honoring the EV activists who[…]

Recorded August 18, 2020 Electric vehicles offer the potential for tremendous reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, as well as conventional pollutants near roadways. They are clean, quiet, and efficient. But what about the batteries? To what extent is the manufacture and end-of-life treatment of the batteries[…]

Summer is looking a little different this year, with many vacation plans canceled. We are all looking for fun things to do while staying home. Why not have an electric vehicle (EV) streaming day? We have compiled a list below of movies and TV shows that highlight EVs. If you[…]

Ten years ago, Plug In America volunteers created several public service announcements to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). In these light-hearted videos, they bring to life the benefits of EVs, compared to gas-powered vehicles. In a brilliant analogy, they compared the use of a gas-powered cellphone to an[…]

While most electric vehicle (EV) charging is done at home overnight or at work during the day, direct current fast charging, commonly referred to as DC fast charging or DCFC, can charge an EV up to 80% in just 20-30 minutes. So, how is DC fast charging applicable to EV[…]

Get to know Plug In America’s staff and board! This week’s spotlight is on Executive Director Joel Levin. He is focused on continuing to build Plug In America as the leading independent voice for electric vehicles in the United States. What is your role at Plug In America? I am[…]

As a follow-up to Zan Dubin-Scott and Paul Scott’s recent blog post, Individual choices matter in fighting climate change, fellow Plug In America co-founder Linda Nicholes reflects upon the effort by early electric vehicle activists to save Toyota RAV4 EVs in 2005. After our month-long, ultimately unsuccessful vigil in the[…]

For the second year, Plug In America supporters roamed their neighborhoods on July 4 to count how many all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles they could spot as part of the Independence Day EV Count. Across the United States, we counted 12,036 vehicles, of which 638 (5.30%) were electric. All-electric vehicles[…]

In a major victory for electric vehicle (EV) drivers, on July 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H. R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. The major package is essentially a wish list that Plug In America has had for federal EV policy, including all of the following: Sec. 90431[…]

Vehicle-grid integration (VGI) refers to a range of methods for controlling the impact of electric vehicles (EVs) on the electrical grid. These methods can involve encouraging charging at specific times of day or at specific locations to relieve grid congestion, or reducing charging power levels during times of high demand.[…]

By Zan Dubin-Scott and Paul Scott While we’re in this pandemic pause—as electric and other car sales stall—Paul and I thought we’d take a brief look back at the EV/renewable energy activism we and others have undertaken over the past couple of decades because we want to make a simple[…]

On Monday, June 22, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and his administration announced the start of the rulemaking process that will eventually lead to Nevada adopting the Clean Car standards, which includes the zero-emission vehicle standard (ZEV standard). To date, eleven states have adopted this program, with Minnesota, New Mexico and Washington[…]

Range anxiety. It’s become such a common phrase that it has its own dictionary entry and Wikipedia page. Tesla’s recent announcement that the new Model S Long Range Plus vehicles have an EPA-rated range of 402 miles may finally end that once and for all. To be clear: most electric[…]

Electric vehicle (EV) batteries have potential projected life spans of over 20 years! This means, after many years, the car can provide an acceptable driving experience and continue to deliver 70-80% of the range it had when it was new. As with all batteries, including smartphones and laptops, EV batteries[…]

Plug In America recently sent a letter to members of Congress with specific requests to promote electric vehicles. During these difficult times, strengthening our commitment to electric transportation will improve public health through clean air and stimulate our economy by creating American jobs. The requests include extending the federal EV[…]

Get to know Plug In America’s staff and board! This week’s spotlight is on Policy Director Katherine Stainken. She has been advocating for electric vehicles at the federal and state levels with Plug In America for nearly four years. What is your role at Plug In America? I am the policy director at Plug[…]

In 2006, my wife and I put down a deposit for a Tesla Roadster and started the long wait for production to begin. At the time, I was driving an Acura NSX and was a little nervous with the idea of replacing it with an electric car. We wanted to[…]

Plug In America (PIA) is offering our nationwide web-based PlugStar EV Specialist Basic Course to dealers at NO COST if you sign up by July 15. If a dealership chooses to participate, we hope this opportunity will help support sales teams and electric vehicle (EV) sales during this difficult time.[…]

We drive electric because we believe that the future can be better. I know it’s a little hard to think about the future right now, when our COVID present is feeling pretty grim and we have utterly no idea how long it will go on. We are all stuck at[…]

This guest blog post was submitted by Plug In America supporter and high school student Madhav Bhat. If you would like to submit a guest blog post for possible inclusion in a future newsletter, please contact us at info@pluginamerica.org. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”[…]

Ten years ago, the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF hit showroom floors, making 2010 an influential year for mass-produced electric vehicles (EVs). The Tesla Roadster, the first of the new generation of EVs, came out two years earlier, but the Volt and the LEAF were mainstream models from established automakers.[…]

This guest blog post was submitted by Plug In America supporter Tim Setterfield. If you would like to submit a guest blog post for possible inclusion in a future newsletter, please contact us at info@pluginamerica.org. Electric vehicles are great, but like traditional cars, they too need some occasional maintenance. The[…]

Today, the American Lung Association released its annual State of the Air report. It found that nearly 50% of Americans live in counties with unhealthy ozone or particle pollution, an increase over the past three years. The report clearly indicates that air pollution levels in the United States are simply too high.[…]

Note: This event has ended, but you can view a recording of the event on Facebook Live. You do not need a Facebook account to view the recording. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the event a huge success! Join Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and Electric[…]

Despite what naysayers are trying to say, the electric vehicle (EV) market is not going anywhere. A recent study showed that EV sales may drop 43% in 2020—hinting that the EV market is in trouble. Will we see a decline in EV sales in 2020? Sure, because COVID-19 is forcing[…]

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released Part Two of “The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks.” This rule rolls back the fuel efficiency standards to a 1.5% year-over-year improvement in mileage vs a[…]

All of us at Plug In America hope that you and your families are remaining safe and healthy during this difficult time. As the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to grow, we urge you to follow the CDC’s guidance to wash your hands frequently, avoid close contact with others,[…]

Last week, the Washington State Legislature passed SB 5811, which will make the state the 12th in the nation to adopt a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) program. Gov. Jay Inslee, an advocate in the fight against climate change, supports the ZEV program and is expected to sign the bill soon. The[…]

America is the birthplace of the electric car. EV, PHEV, and hybrid technology were all born here. The EV1 was designed and built here. Tesla, the world’s flagship EV company, is based here—but is increasingly looking to manufacture abroad—closer to its markets. Sadly, in 2019, U.S. EV sales declined to[…]

This guest blog post was submitted by Plug In America supporter Robyn Camp. If you would like to submit a guest blog post for possible inclusion in a future newsletter, please email info@pluginamerica.org with the subject line “Guest Blog Post.” On a recent work assignment in Ukraine, an EV caught[…]

As we approach International Women’s Day on March 8th (mark those calendars!), we would like to recognize the huge influence women have had in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. From the activists who led the fight to save EVs in the early 2000s to the[…]

Plug In America announced the immediate nationwide availability of web-based sales training for auto dealers that sell EVs. The PlugStar training course equips dealer sales staff to serve the distinct needs of buyers considering the switch to cars powered by electricity. Concerns over range, affordability and charging are just a[…]

Plug In America’s EV Support Program has been in service for a year! Since the launch of the program, we have helped hundreds of current and potential EV drivers by answering their EV questions by phone or email.  More than half of all inquiries were regarding the various incentives that[…]

It’s not a surprise that climate change is becoming a top priority for many Americans and automakers are taking notice. This past weekend. Audi, Ford, General Motors, and Porsche all promoted their electric models during Super Bowl LIV, the biggest advertising platform in the U.S. These couldn’t have come at[…]

As we continue striving for greater electric vehicle (EV) adoption, a key component is the auto dealership that sells or leases the vehicles. While dealers are great at explaining the specific features of the vehicles, they can’t always answer consumers’ questions about charging, incentives, electricity rates, and other aspects of[…]

While Congress failed to extend the federal EV tax credit in December, there is one piece of good news out of Washington, D.C. A federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of installing EV charging equipment, which had expired December 31, 2016, has been retroactively extended through December 31,[…]

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a very extensive EV legislation package last Friday. Under the new law, New Jersey residents will be eligible for a rebate of $25 per mile of electric range on the vehicle, up to $5,000. For instance, a plug-in hybrid with a range of 30[…]

Last year brought several new all-electric vehicles and many automakers have announced exciting new vehicles in coming years, including the Rivian pickup truck and Ford’s all-electric F-150 and Mustang Mach-E, but unfortunately, those are not likely to be released this year. While 2020’s new offerings aren’t as robust as last[…]

Despite a flurry of activity in December and thousands of emails and phone calls to Congressional offices (thank you!), an extension of the federal EV tax credit was left out of the final federal spending bill. According to Senator Debbie Stabenow, it was left out due to “extreme resistance from[…]

Filmmaker Ryan Hunter recently released a 37-minute documentary that explores the many aspects of electric vehicle adoption. It also includes interviews with Plug In America founders Chelsea Sexton and Paul Scott. The film can be viewed for free on YouTube now!  

This has been another successful year for the movement toward greater electric vehicle adoption. As 2019 is coming to an end, let’s take a look back at some of the notable moments for EVs and Plug In America. New EV models: long-range all-electrics Just one year ago, there were only[…]

This April marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, a time to reflect on the devastating effects of climate change and celebrate the ways that we can protect our environment. Quite possibly, the single greatest action that an individual can take to reduce climate change is switching from[…]

On Tuesday, October 29, Plug In America honored four Arizona organizations that are leading the electric-vehicle transition in the state at the inaugural Drive Electric Arizona Awards. The awards were presented at the Arizona Transportation Electrification Forum, which brought together key players in Arizona’s growing electric-vehicle marketplace, including EV manufacturers, decision-makers,[…]

The federal government is rolling back fuel efficiency standards set by the Obama Administration and revoking California’s ability to set stricter vehicle emission standards, including the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. On Friday, September 27, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration officially published the new Clean Car[…]

Over the next several months, auto shows will be taking place across the country. This can be a great opportunity to see some of the electric vehicles available in your state. As the EV industry is gaining momentum, more auto shows are inclusive in showcasing EVs. The Plug In America[…]

This year, four new all-electric vehicles were released, the Audi e-tron, Hyundai Kona Electric, Jaguar I-PACE, and Kia Niro EV. Now that they have been on the market for several months, we asked our supporters that are driving these cars to share their experiences with these vehicles. Kia Niro EV[…]

Earlier this year, Plug In America launched the EV Support Program, which provides assistance to those with questions about electric vehicles, charging, incentives, and more. Anyone may access this service one time for free, but supporters who donate at the bronze level or higher receive unlimited access. We’ve received numerous[…]

PlugStar, Plug In America’s consumer and dealer engagement program, makes the EV shopping experience easier. On PlugStar.com, car buyers compare EVs, shop equipment and services, and connect with trained PlugStar dealers to make choosing an EV simple and pain free. Here are some helpful features on PlugStar.com to better enhance[…]

A common misconception around electric vehicles is that they’re too expensive for average Americans. Here, we compare the true costs of driving an EV compared to gas cars. Sticker price According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a new car in the United States in September 2019 was[…]

A number of new EV models came out this year, including the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, Audi e-tron, and Jaguar I-PACE. If you’re among the first to be driving one of these, we’d like to hear about your experience! Share your feedback and we may include your response[…]

On September 16, during National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric New Hampshire organized the Granite State’s first Charge Forward EV Relay that would travel 267 miles over the course of a day through New Hampshire from Colebrook to Portsmouth. While many drivers participated for a segment or two, and we[…]

During this year’s National Drive Electric Week, I traveled to Longmont, Colorado and Dallas, Texas to meet EV supporters in those areas, both of which are exciting places for EV adoption.   Longmont, Colorado is a small city adjacent to its more famous sister Boulder, and a bit north of[…]

We would like to thank Nissan for making a generous donation of a 2018 Nissan LEAF to Plug In America! The car, which has been wrapped with the Plug In America logo, will be put to great use as a display vehicle at ride-and-drive events, giving many visitors their first[…]

We know that a common problem for many EV consumers living in multi-unit dwellings is the difficulty of having access to charging. After the publishing the recent blog post, Installing electric vehicle charging in an apartment or condo building, two of our supporters generously shared their experiences with us in[…]

On Friday, August 16, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission adopted the zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) program, joining California and nine other states that already have a ZEV program. This is a huge step forward, as Colorado is the first state to adopt such a program in a decade and other[…]

Plug In America’s EV Support Program provides personalized assistance to those with questions about electric vehicles, charging, incentives, and more. Anyone may access this service one time for free and Plug In America members have unlimited access. To get your EV questions answered by phone or email, contact the EV[…]

A common problem for apartment and condo dwellers that want to drive electric is a lack of access to charging. Installing charging in a multi-unit dwelling (MUD) can be difficult, but it is possible. The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) recently released a guidebook to help[…]

On July 4, Plug In America held the first annual Independence Day EV Count. Plug In America supporters across the United States ventured out into their neighborhoods to count how many EVs they can find. In total, we counted 13,750 cars, of which 569 (4.14%) were electric vehicles. All-electric vehicles[…]

While there have been more than one million electric vehicles sold in the United States, there are still some common misconceptions that many Americans have. We, as EV drivers, can help address these and educate people about the benefits of driving electric. What other misconceptions have you encountered? Let us[…]

Plug In America’s largest EV education campaign, National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), September 14-22, is gearing up for another successful year! Last year’s NDEW included 321 events in all 50 states and we hope to reach even more communities this year! If you can’t create a large-scale event, here are[…]

Considering an electric vehicle but not sure what options are available? Plug In America’s popular Electric Vehicle Guide lists 40 currently available all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles with the retail price and mileage range, as of June 2019. The guide is available to download as a PDF. To compare vehicles[…]

Just one year ago, if you wanted an all-electric vehicle that could travel more than 200 miles on a single charge, you were limited to a Tesla or the Chevy Bolt. Today, there are as many as nine different options, with five of them starting at under $40,000. And if[…]

Spring has sprung and so has EV policy at the federal level in 2019. Plug In America has been working to advance EV policy and educate more members of Congress on the benefits of driving electric and electrifying the transportation sector. Our top priority is securing more co-sponsors for the[…]

Celebrate your freedom from oil this Independence Day! Plug In America is organizing the first annual Independence Day EV Count. Inspired by the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, we invite you, EV drivers and supporters, to get out into your neighborhood and count how many EVs you see. How[…]

In addition to our major national events, National Drive Electric Week and Drive Electric Earth Day, the Plug In America team also promotes and educates the public about electric vehicles (EVs) through ride-and-drive events all year long. So far, in 2019, we have produced 22 events with more than 1,000[…]

Many automotive museums feature classic electric vehicles, from early 1900s models up to the EV1 and beyond. Below are some locations where you can view impressive EVs! We recommend calling each museum before your visit to ensure the vehicles you want to see are on display. If you know a[…]

With summer around the corner, EV drivers across America will soon be taking to the roads in droves to head out on warm weather road trips. Taking a road trip in an electric car can be a much superior experience to a gas car—if you know what steps to take.[…]

With summer around the corner, EV drivers across America will soon be taking to the roads in droves to head out on warm weather road trips. Taking a road trip in an electric car can be a much superior experience to a gas car—if you know what steps to take.[…]

On Thursday, May 2, Plug In America hosted the third annual Capitol Hill EV Ride & Drive for members of Congress and their staff, in partnership with the Senate Auto Caucus. The event included the latest models of plug-in vehicles and showed elected officials why driving electric is a better[…]

Plug In America has reached out to the declared presidential candidates, asking their views about electric vehicles and, specifically, if they will commit to a full transition of new plug-in electric cars and trucks by 2040. But you can help us get the candidates’ attention! Please reach out to the[…]

With Earth Day right around the corner, let’s take a look at strides in the environmental sustainability of electric car manufacturing. This week, Audi showcased its new “green” factory in Brussels that is mass producing the Audi e-tron, an all-electric long-range SUV. This factory is on the forefront of automotive[…]

Our family just bought another EV—a gently used 2012 Chevy Volt—and we love it. That’s not to say that we love our 2015 LEAF any less, in the same way that you can love each of your children differently, without necessarily picking a favorite. We at Plug In America have[…]

A quick look at the electric cars hitting dealerships this year reveals an interesting trend: they are long-range all-electrics. The number of upcoming plug-in hybrid electric models is dwarfed by this wave of all-electric long-range cars and SUVs. While many of them are high-performance luxury models, even affordable makes like[…]

San Antonio is making headlines with its new climate action plan, which aims to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2050, including all passenger and commercial vehicles. San Antonio isn’t the only city to consider such a ban; Paris, Madrid, Athens, London, and Copenhagen have all announced similar[…]

As you may know, the $7,500 federal EV tax credit begins phasing out for an automaker’s vehicles once they have sold 200,000 electric vehicles. Tesla and GM have already hit that cap, while Nissan and Ford have surpassed the 100,000 mark. Plug In America continues to advocate for modifying the[…]

We recently launched the Plug In America EV Support Program, which connects current and potential EV drivers with experts to answer questions about vehicles, charging, incentives and more. This service is a benefit for Plug In America members, but anyone may access the service one time for free. We’ve received[…]

The polar vortex is in full swing and drivers everywhere are finding out their cars don’t love the frigid temperatures. All cars, both gas and electric, use more energy in cold weather, which yields reduced gas mileage and shorter electric range. For most electric vehicle drivers, this isn’t necessarily a[…]

Electric vehicles and charging have always had a chicken and the egg relationship. What should we build first? Should we focus on building out a massive public charging network in hopes that it speeds up EV adoption or will simply selling millions of EVs spawn the creation of a dense,[…]

Last week, Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado signed a executive order that contained many positive initiatives promoting electric vehicles. The state had already taken steps toward transportation electrification, including a $5,000 EV tax credit and a goal of 940,000 EVs on the road by 2030. This executive order builds upon[…]

The big electric car news out of Detroit these days is GM’s decision to make Cadillac their leading electric brand. Starting in 2021, GM will be launching the “BEV3” platform as an all-electric long range Cadillac. The BEV3 platform (GM terminology, the Voltec Gen 1 & 2 being the Volt,[…]

On Tuesday, December 18, a coalition of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states (Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia) and the District of Columbia announced their intention to develop a low-carbon transportation strategy. Transportation accounts for approximately 28% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United[…]

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[…]

No doubt about it, 2017 was a banner year for electric vehicles. We have not yet hit the “turning point” that everyone talks about, when the vehicles will explode into the market, but we think we can see it from here. Here’s our take on the top EV milestones for[…]

Put another tick in the win column for EV advocates this year. On, Monday November 20, 2017, the Atlanta City Council voted in favor of a new city law that requires 20% of all new commercial parking structures and all new single-family residential homes in Atlanta to be “EV ready”.[…]

Plug In America participated in the annual conference of the National Association of Utility Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC). In this brief video, Policy Director, Katherine Stainken, provides insight on the test drives Commissioners and other attendees experienced at the event. .@NARUC Annual Meeting & Education Conference NARUC Live! Interview: Katherine Stainken,[…]

In the past week, Plug In America has led the charge of EV drivers protesting against the U.S. House of Representatives’ destructive proposal to immediately terminate the federal EV tax credit as a part of their larger tax plan. Thousands of people have contacted their representatives to tell them that[…]

Update Friday, December 15, 2017 The conference version of the House and Senate tax package that was released late Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 does not cut the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. THANK YOU to all our Plug In America friends and fellow EV drivers for stepping up and sending[…]

Plug In America hosted this webinar on October 17, 2017. PIA’s Policy Director, Katherine Stainken moderated a lively discussion with Linda Benevides, Director of Green Business at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, April Bolduc, Electric Vehicle (EV) Customer Engagement Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric’s[…]

First it was Volvo this spring, announcing its intention to transition to electric cars (with some hedging including mild hybrids). Then China, the world’s largest vehicle market, generated incredible buzz with that government’s decision to institute mandatory plug-in electric car sales starting in 2019. Now, General Motors kicks off the[…]

For more than a decade, Plug In America has been telling anyone who will listen that electric drive is the future. It is simply a better technology for getting from place to place. It’s cleaner, more convenient, more economical, safer, and a lot more fun to drive. Those of you[…]

Plug In America Webinar The First EV Drive – Generating Maximum Impact Register now: it’s free. Tuesday, October 17 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. EST (9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. PST) | 45 minutes Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future for transportation. While the percent of EVs on roads today[…]

NATIONAL DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK REACHES ALL 50 STATES WITH 276 EVENTS 7th Annual Event Achieves Biggest, Widest Reach in History WASHINGTON – For the first time, National Drive Electric Week has reached all 50 states. This year’s coordinated network of 276 community events ranged from massive displays of electric vehicles[…]

NDEW-LA-FAQs

In our latest episode of Ask the EV Experts, we answer a questions from our viewer Alice. Have a question of your own? Let us know in the comments below, post it on Facebook, Tweet at us, or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Question: “One of my favorite things about my[…]

National Drive Electric Week is coming up, September 9-17, and this year there is a lot to celebrate. 2017 is feeling more and more like the year that EVs really hit the mainstream. France and the United Kingdom have joined the list of countries phasing out internal combustion engine cars[…]

“The Most Important Vehicle of the Century” Those aren’t my words. That is what Motor Trend glowingly called the Tesla Model 3 when they were fortunate enough to take a test drive in one of the first few vehicles on the road. I haven ’t been in one yet, but I[…]

Check out this latest article in Utility Drive where PIA’s very own Katherine Stainken shares why resurrecting Georgia’s EV tax credit is so important for the state’s economy. “Two years ago, Georgia lawmakers got rid of an attractive $5,000 tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles —and replaced it[…]

Looking into getting a used electric car? Learn what to look for and what to avoid in our new Used Electric Car Buyers’ Guide.  Click the image below to head on over!

The summer is finally here! July is the month for watermelon, BBQ’s, trips to the beach, lake or pool, vacation, contacting your Representatives… Yes, you read that last one right. Time to contact your Representatives! Congress is still in session right now, but August recess is right around the corner.[…]

I get this question a lot. But there isn’t really a single answer. As with gas cars (and toasters) the real question to ask is, “what’s the best electric car for me?” People have varied needs and tastes, and the car (or toaster) that works best for me might not[…]

In an effort to put more plug-in cars on the road and help fight climate change, Southern California Edison is now offering a $450 rebate for its EV-driving customers.  This new incentive is available to SCE customers who own or are leasing a plug-in electric vehicle, and is issued on[…]

Despite what the President may think, climate change is real; it’s an existential threat to our society; and it requires our utmost attention and determination right now. Pulling out of the Paris Accord, signed by nearly every country on Earth, is a tremendous step in the wrong direction. The good[…]

    We learned recently that Jim Hackett has been appointed the new president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, with a mandate from Chairman Bill Ford to “transform the company to meet tomorrow’s challenges.” There has been much speculation that this is coming from a shareholder demand for the[…]

Plug In America recently staged a day-long ride and drive event for U.S. Senators and their staff. It was a milestone for Plug In America and for the electric car. Hundreds of Senate staff showed up to learn about and drive electric cars, most for the first time. The event[…]

In our latest episode of Ask the EV Experts, we answer a questions from two of our viewers, Joe and Robert. Have a question of your own? Let us know in the comments below, post it on Facebook, Tweet at us, or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Question 1: “Does it[…]

In our latest episode of Ask the EV Experts, we answer a questions from two of our viewers, Richard and Hannah. Have a question of your own? Let us know in the comments below, post it on Facebook, Tweet at us, or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Question 1: “What does[…]

Continuing its tradition of supporting student scientists and engineers working on EV related research, last week Plug In America gave out four special awards at the 2017 California State Science Fair. Two awards went to students in the Junior division (grades 6-8) and two to the Senior division (grades 9-12).[…]

Today we feature a guest blog post by Paul Griffo of Inside Edison. UPDATE: In celebration of being the first Charge Ready site, Lynwood is holding “Plug-in to Earth Day” at the Lynwood Civic Center on April 22. In addition to a “plug-in ceremony,” the event will feature live entertainment and activities[…]

Building EV charging is one of the most effective ways to encourage more EV buyers. Luckily, we’re about to see the single biggest investment in EV charging ever with the funds from the VW settlement. The settlement will result in thousands of new EV charging stations across the country. While[…]

The sharing economy has infiltrated electric cars on a few fronts. Recent launches of car sharing services in the Southern California region – such as Maven, General Motors’ service which will feature all-electric Bolts and WaiveCar in Santa Monica, which offers 2 hours free in a Chevy Spark to drivers[…]

Last Friday, the California Air Resources Board met in Riverside and unanimously decided to follow the recommendations of its staff to continue the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Program as planned, without any changes, through 2025—despite repeats of the old complaints from some in the auto industry that there is no[…]

Michelle Pierce, an EV advocate and mom, offered this moving plea to the California Air Resources Board at their mid-term review of the Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate. Reprinted here with permission from the author. Watch the meeting’s broadcast archive here. Michelle Pierce’s remarks begin at approximately 3:05. — When I[…]

Travelers who park at Los Angeles International Airport will be taking all-electric shuttle buses from WallyPark’s lots to catch their flights. As we noted last month, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are becoming electrified, with deployments in transit districts and fleets throughout the U.S. PRESS RELEASE: Phoenix Motorcars Deploys All Electric[…]

Electric car sales have experienced a significant increase over the past few months.  In December of 2016, almost 25,000 plug-in cars were sold, shattering the previous monthly record of almost 15,000 from August 2016.  In the first three months of this year, over 40,000 cars were sold (10,597 in January,[…]

Sign up to lead a Drive Electric Week celebration in your neighborhood by 3/17, St Patrick’s Day, and be entered to win a ClipperCreek charging station. Many thanks to generous donor, ClipperCreek. Learn more about National Drive Electric Week.

Since the start of the new year, Plug in America has been alerted to a number of bills in states that would impose road usage fees for EVs. As reported this week by the New York Times, fees are cropping up throughout the country. Just when EVs are starting to[…]

Tesla is gearing up for full rate production and delivery of the 2017 Model 3 in the second half of this year.  The Model 3 is currently in low-rate initial production for testing/prototype purposes while the manufacturing tooling is being installed at both the Fremont Factory and Gigafactory 1.  Concurrently,[…]

This week we feature a guest post from Steve Schaefer, who has written a weekly automotive column for 25 years, testing more than 1,200 cars. Now, he’s focusing on electric cars and hybrids. Steve recently took delivery of a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV – his first electric car. As an[…]

In our latest episode of Ask the EV Experts, we answer a question from Kyle in Utah. Have a question of your own? Post it on Facebook, Tweet at us or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Question: “Is it safe to charge my electric car in the rain?” Answer: Yes! We[…]

Marc Geller Special for The Driver’s Seat Blog The Electric Auto Association is turning 50 this year! Since our founding in San Jose, CA in 1967, the membership of EAA, which spans the nation, has demonstrated that electric vehicles can be built and function with existing technology. Our membership converted[…]

Mike Ippoliti, Special to In The Driver’s Seat Blog We all are hearing lots about plug-in electric cars, but there is now a great deal happening in the world of trucks, buses and other heavier vehicles. Larger vehicles like trucks have a much bigger impact on the environment, as individual[…]

With all of the uncertainty coming from Washington the past few weeks, one very significant announcement failed to get much news coverage. Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board, speaking at the annual VerdeXchange conference in Los Angeles, announced that California was pursuing a goal of 100% light-duty,[…]

Bill Nye, a long-time electric car advocate, recently picked up his “Kinetic Blue” Chevy Bolt EV and agrees with us – the Chevy Bolt is a game changer. In a recent interview with Green Car Reports’ John Voelcker, Nye lauded the Bolt as “head and shoulders above the rest” of[…]

In our latest episode of Ask the EV Experts, we answer a question from Mary in Washington. Have a question of your own? Post it on Facebook, Tweet at us or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Question: “What happens if my electric car runs out of electricity on the road?” Answer:[…]

The tires on an electric car are an often overlooked yet vital component.  Advanced battery packs, efficient motors, and cutting edge thermal management systems often steal the spotlight when talking about the technical merits of electric cars, but the tires on their own deserve some attention.  As with any disruptive[…]

In our latest episode of Ask the EV Experts, we answer a question from Brian in Oregon. Have a question of your own? Post it on Facebook, Tweet at us or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Question: I’ve heard a lot about how electric cars don’t need any maintenance – is[…]

Dealers and their sales staff are central to growing sales in the fledgling market for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Nearly all new PEVs (excluding Tesla) are sold through independently owned dealerships. Yet an increasing number of reports show that many dealers struggle with selling PEVs, citing low consumer awareness, limited[…]

Colorado State Press Release MULTIPLE LOCATIONS — Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 — The Governors of Colorado, Utah and Nevada today jointly announced that they will work together over the next year to develop complementary plans for building an electric vehicle charging network across key highway corridors in their states. The[…]

Watch our Executive Director, Joel Levin, discuss Plug In America’s role in a changing political landscape: Want more? Check out our entire video library here.

Watch our Program Director Eric Cahill discuss our upcoming dealer engagement program: Want more? Check out our entire video library here.

Watch Patrick Harbison, our Communications Consultant, talk about how social media is connecting EV Drivers: Want to see more? Check out our entire video library here.

Check out our newest video with our Policy Director, Katherine Stainken! Want to see more? Find all our other videos here.

This week, Plug In America’s John U’Ren had the opportunity to interview Harlan Flagg at Hollywood Electrics about the present and future of electric motorcycles. Hollywood Electrics first opened back in 2009, and quickly established itself as the largest dealer of electric motorcycles in the world. Increasingly, electric cars are entering[…]

Actor Ty Burrell likes to live dangerously, but not when it comes to climate change. Watch him in the next episode of Years of Living Dangerously, airing Wednesday December 7th, where he takes to the road to see the environmental revolutions being made in electric vehicles (#EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs). Don’t miss[…]

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has announced a new requirement for electric and hybrid cars: an audible alert.  Beginning in September 2019, all new production hybrid and electric cars will have to comply with a minimum noise level in an effort to both prevent collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists[…]

Watch these special messages from Plug In America, then please consider making a donation to support our work in 2017 and beyond. Katherine Stainken, Policy Director Patrick Harbison, Communications Advisor Katherine Stainken, Policy Director

Dear Friends, We stand at a moment of great uncertainty for the electric car. With the outcome of the election, we need your help and your commitment now more than ever. Plug In America has stood firm in its commitment to electric vehicles through a range of political climates; in[…]

Plug In America today announced it has met the Workplace Charging Challenge by installing a charging station for its employees and issued a call for other employers to follow suit. The US Department of Energy’s EV Everywhere program is building momentum among employers to install electric vehicle charging as an[…]

Next up on our new series, Ask the EV Expert, we answer a question from Eileen in Connecticut. Have a question of your own? Post it on Facebook, Tweet at us or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert I’m leaving town for a few weeks, and I have three questions! Question: Should[…]

Finally we are starting to see automakers, albeit just one to start with – Hyundai, try a more deliberate approach to retailing vehicles equipped with alternative powertrains like EVs. Hyundai’s forthcoming Ioniq, offered first as an EV and later as a plug-in hybrid EV, will feature what the automaker is[…]

While some electric utilities in California have been prepping for years to support and expand the electric vehicle market, many are just getting started. As the nation’s leading independent consumer voice for accelerating the use of these clean vehicles, Plug In America supports the involvement of utilities in the  Plug-in[…]

Fighting for change has never been easy. Plug In America has stood firm in its commitment to electric vehicles through a range of political climates; in fair weather and foul. Over many years, we have pushed both Democratic and Republican administrations to be bold in their support of EVs. And[…]

Next up on our new series, Ask the EV Expert, we field a question from Frank in Massachusetts. Have a question of your own? Post it on Facebook, Tweet at us or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert Many people have talked about the environmental impact of electric car batteries once they[…]

  In 1898, the world’s first urban planning conference was held in New York City. It was largely devoted to the major urban environmental health problem of the day – horse manure. In the 1890’s, with horses as the primary means of transportation (as they had been since the time[…]

We’ve read a few pieces in recent weeks which seem to relish pitting autonomous vehicle technology against electric vehicles. One pundit even speculates that we should say “goodbye to EVs.” We see a false equivalency argument between the problems that the two technologies solve. Electrified drive trains offer cleaner air,[…]

First up on our new series, Ask the EV Expert, we field a question from Dave in Arkansas. Have a question of your own? Post it on Facebook, Tweet at us or email us at info@pluginamerica.org #AskTheEVExpert I think I read somewhere we should ride our electric car’s brakes downhill to[…]

Are plug-in hybrids merely a stepping stone to an all-battery electric national fleet?  Or are they destined to be a long-term fixture of the American automotive industry?  Two new articles take opposing views on the matter.  Neil Winton of Forbes observes that most major auto manufacturers believe that plug-in hybrids[…]

Jeff Finn, Treasurer At the Issaquah, WA NDEW event, I spoke with a couple about their EV experience. The husband informed me that they had recently located a reasonably priced used LEAF which was perfect to use for his 24-mile round trip commute to work each day. Unfortunately, his wife[…]

The California Air Resources Board’s Technology Symposium held at the South Coast Air Quality Management District offices this past week offered a glimpse into the future of battery electric vehicles from the industry side. Despite the fact that EV technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade,[…]

The Chevrolet Bolt officially has an EPA-estimated all-electric range of 238 miles.  Wow. That’s far enough to drive from from Dallas to Houston on a single charge. Or from Los Angeles to Palm Springs and back without charging. But the range itself is not what makes the Chevy Bolt a[…]

A few years ago, it would have been a pipe dream to imagine that there would be 500,000 plug-in cars on the streets of the United States—and more than a million worldwide. But we are now poised to cross this big threshold in the coming week. (If you are a[…]

Left: Guest Blogger Andy Silber with his wife, Catherine, and her dog, Montse, at Mount Si outside Seattle, WA One of the things that we hear as owners of electric vehicles (EVs) is that we’re just causing more coal and gas to be burned. Is this a fair complaint today[…]

I have just returned from the EV Roadmap Conference in Portland, now in its 9th year. There was one word that I heard there, over and over, from a variety of speakers and I have been thinking about it quite a bit since then. The word is better. The real[…]

The organizers behind the sixth annual National Drive Electric Week – Plug in America, the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association – announced new details for the annual event designed to accelerate the national adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (EV). Through test drives, parades, news conferences and announcements of[…]

The electric vehicle world will be taking some big steps forward this autumn. Four new vehicles are expected out from manufacturers near the end of the year that each push the envelope in some interesting ways and fill market niches that are still barren. So if your lease is expiring[…]

On June 27, webinar attendees joined Plug in America and the State of Massachusetts in promoting the Commonwealth’s efforts to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles by focusing on the benefits to employers and their workers in providing charging spaces and how to create a viable program. Webinar Agenda: Massachusetts Drive[…]

May 25, 2016 Webinar emPower the People (em = electric mobility) EmPower the People Webinar Recording and Toolkit On May 25, 2016, Plug In America hosted an informative webinar, “emPower the People EV Charging for Apartment Condo Residents.” Below, you can view a recording of the webinar presentation by Plug In America’s Joel[…]

This year at the annual California State Science Fair one of our directors, Jay Friendland, judged 940 projects and awarded a total of four students with the Plug In America EV Excellence Award. These students won because of their projects’ innovation and relevance to Electric Vehicle (EV) technology. The first[…]

Last month, David Biello wrote an article in Scientific American entitled “Electric Cars Are Not Necessarily Clean.” Biello found that electric vehicles (EVs) “are only as good as the electricity that charges them” and concluded that their environmental benefit is modest at best. Unfortunately, he entirely missed the true beauty[…]

1. Merging onto the highway can be the best part of the trip. The ability of an electric motor to give maximum torque from low speeds completely changes the experience of zipping onto a fast-moving highway. This is one EV secret that no one talks about. 2. Everyone is curious[…]

This past week was unprecedented in the history of the automobile. Tesla Motors began accepting orders on the Model 3. In three days, they took some 300,000 reservations for the car, each with a $1,000 deposit. If they all come through, that equates to over $10 billion in sales–in three[…]

Join us at: Plug Into Electric Drive Programming at ACT Expo 2016 Join Plug In America at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo from May 2-5 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Participate in exciting electric drive sessions, including: Choosing Electric: Purchasing the Right Fleet Vehicle A Road Map for Light-Duty[…]

This week, I took my next-door neighbor and my exterminator for a ride in my new Nissan LEAF. Neither had ever been in an electric vehicle before and both were plenty impressed with the comfort, quiet and power of the ride. My neighbor only drives Volvos, but was very interested[…]

If your phone company offered you a shiny new rotary-dial telephone, hard-wired to the wall, but with a lower monthly bill, would you trade in your iPhone or Android? Probably not. People did not move to smart phones because they were cheaper. Consumers migrate to a new technology because it[…]

At the beginning of the year I would have never predicted we could accomplish so much for plug-in vehicles at the Federal level. As usual the year starts with hopes and dreams, as well as fears. Our number one legislative priority in Congress is always protecting (and if possible expanding)[…]

Bob Tregilus speaks with renewable energy policy guru, Paul Gipe, about his year adventuring around south central California in his EV. Guest’s website(s): http://www.wind-works.org http://www.chelseagreen.com/events?person=8469 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.gipe.9 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-gipe-99317214 Links mentioned in the show: Ollie Danner’s Electric Car Pledge http://www.electriccarpledge.com/ How to Calculate Electric Vehicle Emissions by ZIP Code and Model[…]

In a recent interview in the Atlantic, We Need an Energy Miracle, Bill Gates made some statements about our transition to a zero-carbon energy economy and electric vehicles which need to be corrected. On the subject of existing technology and efficiency gains, Gates said: But what we’re asking ourselves to[…]

Yes, of course, EV drivers get stranded, the same as gas car drivers get stranded. It’s pretty much the same situation in any vehicle. People run out of juice not because of how big the tank or battery is, but because they either aren’t paying attention or choose to play[…]

There is interest in having electric vehicles participate in the grid in an active, bi-directional way, referred to as vehicle-to-grid or V2G. Instead of firing up expensive on-demand generators that burn fossil fuels, perhaps we could use EVs as a power source to handle demand spikes in a way that[…]

The biennual Solar Decathlon returned to Southern California last week, with a twist. There is a significant difference in the rules this year; a first in the contest s 13-year history. Teams and their houses can now compete in an electric commuting category by making enough electricity to operate a[…]

Bob Tregilus speaks with Joel Levin, Plug in America’s new Executive Director, about his unique experiences with his work in non-profit sectors and thoughts on his new position at Plug In America. Guest’s website(s): pluginamerica.org

Bob Tregilus talks with National Drive Electric Week and Plug In America co founder Zan Dubin Scott about the history of Plug in America and how to get the media excited about your local National Drive Electric Week event. National Drive Electric Week is coming, the dates are September 12-20. Sign[…]

As we near five years since the introduction of plug-in electric vehicles, it’s encouraging to see that total sales are on pace to double that of plugless hybrids for their first five years. This year also marks the fifth annual celebration of National Drive Electric Week. Please join us at[…]

My wife and I have been driving electric vehicles since 2008, logging over 100,000 electric miles, and have never had an experience where our vehicle’s lack of engine noise created an unsafe situation. However, the issue of quiet vehicles and pedestrians is subtle and complex. I have had a pedestrian[…]

The annual race pits drivers of everything from Teslas to EV go-karts for adrenalized fun. By Guest Blogger: Geoff Drake It’s a cool June morning at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. A vintage Volkswagen bug ambles across the pits, but there’s no telltale air-cooled boxer rattle coming out the back end[…]

Today, car shoppers can pick from nearly 20 plug-in vehicle models made by more than a dozen brands. Yet, vast swaths of the general public are still surprised to know that EVs exist, let alone that some folks have owned highway-capable, production EVs for a decade or more some of[…]

Workplace Charging – The Goldilocks Approach Many companies are considering providing workplace charging for their employees and finding they are in new territory with many options to consider. We at Plug In America would like to share what we have learned having been involved for over 10 years in both[…]

Introduction “…it is fair to suggest that falling gas prices will reduce demand for fuel-efficient, hybrid and electric vehicles” -Alec Gutierrez, Kelley Blue Book “…gas prices “certainly” have an effect on electric-drive cars.” -Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com The idea has been repeated often enough; rising gasoline prices cause drivers to turn[…]

In September, my wife and I took an 11,000 mile trip in our all-electric vehicle. It was my 11th all-electric road trip; and while I’ve enjoyed them all, past trips have had some compromises mostly involving planning and waiting for the car to charge. This was the first trip that[…]

What happens when consumers experience all of the available plug-in vehicles together, all at once, in one place? This is one of the concepts behind National Drive Electric Week (formerly National Plug In Day). As simple as it sounds, evidence compiled by Plug In America president Richard Kelly suggests that[…]

We’re gearing up for National Drive Electric Week 2014 September 15-21. Dedicated volunteers and EV advocates are signing up to create events across the US, Canada, and Mexico. With 11 weeks to go, we have 70 events being planned, compared to 24 at this time last year. As you can[…]

Back in March I, along with a throng of EV owners watched in disbelief as the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, spurred on by lobbying from the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJCAR), voted to deny an extension to Tesla Motors that would have allowed them to continue selling[…]

The cost to charge an electric vehicle varies depending on the vehicle, local electricity rates, and driving habits, but on average, an electric vehicle driver will pay just 25–50% of what they would pay in a comparable gasoline vehicle. To estimate your charging costs, visit PlugStar.com, enter your ZIP code,[…]

Last month, March 11th, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) voted to enforce an age old ruling that prohibited car manufacturers from selling cars directly to the consumer. The target of that act was Tesla Motors Inc. Tesla, who has been selling cars in New Jersey for some time[…]

Considering Germany is home to automotive titans like Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW, it’s disappointing America hasn’t had many plug-in offerings coming from there. It was only last year when the first plug-ins from Germany arrived here when smart began selling the smart electric drive in mid 2013, followed by the[…]

It’s not what you know, but who you know, right? Actually, these days, it’s how well connected you are, isn’t it? Connected as in: using your smartphone or laptop to charge your car, check your solar production, control your thermostat and whatnot. According to a study from our new sponsor,[…]

You may have noticed that we have a new sponsor in our friends over at SolarCity. They are a leading solar provider, delivering renewable electricity directly to homeowners, businesses and more – for less than was formerly spent on utility bills. They are now promoting a great pairing that Plug[…]

As with any car purchase, there’s more to consider than cost when thinking about a plug-in vehicle. There’s also the convenience of fueling at home and the superior driving experience of an electric drive train. But at some point, we have to think about the cost and thrifty consumers will[…]

We’ve seen a number of reports recently about predictions that electric vehicles will lose value faster than similar gas cars. While predicting the future is a tricky business, there’s a deceptive math trick being used to make the resale values of EVs look bad. The people making these predictions tend[…]

For many people, it doesn’t matter. DC is faster, and that is all that they need to know. But for the curious, this is a simplified explanation of the difference between AC and DC charging. Technical details are intentionally glossed over here. The reason we have two types of charging[…]

At Plug In 2013 in San Diego, I presented some new and updated results from the Plug In America EV battery longevity studies. The Original 1997-2003 Toyota RAV4 EV First up, let’s take a look at a chart showing results from 62 original RAV4 EV owners. These vehicles started production[…]

Linda Nicholes, co-founder of Plug In America and long-time advocate for solar energy and plug-in cars, has been on the front lines of the plug-in movement since the beginning. When Tesla announced that they would be selling vehicles to the public, Linda was among the first in line. Her roadster,[…]

Posted with permission from the author. Previously published at Clean Technica. Monday night’s email from Nissan’s Tim Gallagher inviting me to visit the El Toro Marine Base on Wednesday was too good to be true. Nissan was going to have the new autonomous driving car, an electric Nissan LEAF, available[…]

Gasland 2: The Problem and the Solution Josh Fox performed a rare feat in cinema – he brought the problem together with the solution all in one frame. The scene I’m talking about comes about 2/3 into the new HBO film Gasland 2, when Chris Paine, the filmmaker of Who[…]

In May 2012, John Voelcker published a great article where he proposed a “real car” test for BEVs: It’s sold outright to consumers, not only leased; and It will sell at least 5,000 or more a year in the U.S. or reach total global sales of 20,000; and It’s offered[…]

A funny thing happens when someone gets a plug-in car for the first time. It’s more than the EV grin that shows up the first time someone drives a plug-in car. Owning (or leasing) an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid brings that thrill every single day. It builds up[…]

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Priorities My wife and I have been driving electric since 2008. Living in the Seattle area means there was no public charging infrastructure back then, so we’ve seen a lot of change. As an early adopter, I’ve promoted public charging and helped individuals, cities, and businesses[…]

Vroom, vroom! That’s the sound of quick charging, Los Angeles style, which Plug In America co-founders Paul Scott and Zan Dubin Scott celebrated last month on a hot afternoon at Nissan of Downtown L.A. Paul, the dealership’s Leaf sales specialist, drew triple the number of usual Saturday test drives with[…]

Check out the press release we circulated to mark this major moment. And if you know somebody who should enter the contest please send them to the contest page. PLUG IN AMERICA MARKS SALE OF 100,000 PLUG-IN VEHICLES: #PIA100K Historic Milestone Expected on May 20 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 17,[…]

Soon, based on recent monthly sales figures, somewhere in the US someone will purchase the 100,000th electric vehicle since highway ready cars were reintroduced to the US market. (Check the new counter on our homepage to see where we are.) As we prepare to celebrate 100,000 PEVs on the road[…]

Last week we had an Earth Day celebration at my work, where 10 EV drivers brought their EVs to display and answer questions. The most common question was “How much do the cars cost?” I’ve decided to do a quick comparison on the cheapest EVs available today. When I leased[…]

Would You Give Up Your Cell Phone? Me neither. I have my life in that little black box: appointments, phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, e-mail, grocery list, music, and more. Texting is the only way I can contact my daughter. I can’t imagine what I would do without it. And yet,[…]

My wife and I are extremely happy owners of 100% battery-electric vehicles. We regularly take road trips in our BEVs, and we don’t have range anxiety. We did when we first got a BEV several years ago, but it didn’t take long for us to get over it. We are[…]

Inside EVs notes that – fueled by continued strong Volt performance, a resurgent LEAF, and the continued ramp up of Tesla production, March 2013 was likely an all-time high month for plug in sales performance. Thank you Inside EVs for pointing out the achievement – the plug in tipping point[…]

We’re headed towards the third iteration of National Plug In Day, scheduled for September 28/29, 2013. We’re hoping to build on last year’s success to see 100 events that reach 100,000 people with test drives and information on how fun and easy it is to own and drive an electric[…]

Do You Live in a Green Car City? The race is on! Some U.S. cities have jumped to the lead in adoption of electrified vehicles. A few of the top 15 are to be expected, and a few others may surprise you. Forbes recently reported on data compiled by R.[…]

The automakers are making some incredible plug-in cars, and owners are more satisfied with them than any other type of car. Between the automakers and the owners are the dealers. It’s more difficult for the dealers; to sell this new type of car, they have to invest in new equipment[…]

By consciously stimulating consumer deployment and in-state industry development, Oregon and California now have evidence that those investments leverage high economic impact. In late 2009 in Oregon, a few EV oriented businesses, manufacturers and professionals created an industry cluster in a third floor conference room of the Portland Development Commission,[…]

New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan has now weighed in on the famous John Broder Model S test drive with a “careless” verdict. A public editor review of any story is notable; for the Times to review the story speaks volumes about this moment for electrification. The carelessness in[…]

One key difference between the recent experience with EVs and those prior has been capacity of the digital era to challenge false information put out about the cars. The New York Times recently got caught in another example of poor EV reporting. NYT writer John Broder touted that he outed[…]

Plug-in vehicle drivers have never been shy about telling people of our experiences with electric drive. Now, more than ever, people are starting to listen even people who historically haven’t listened to much of what we have to say. At the January 2013 meeting of the Golden Gate Electric Vehicle[…]

I’m here in Washington DC today participating as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rolls out the first of its new plug-in vehicle initiatives, the Workplace Charging Challenge as part of DOE’s EV Everywhere. The key goal of this program is to increase the number of employers offering plug-in vehicle[…]

As we settle into the New Year, we wanted to look back on last year’s achievements and ahead to what might be in store for 2013. Many would call 2012 the most dynamic year in history for the American plug in vehicle market. Who would have thought entering 2012 that:[…]

Like owners of conventional gas cars, owners of electric cars are naturally interested in understanding expectations of long-term performance and maintenance issues. In the fall of 2012, Plug In America conducted a survey of Nissan LEAF owners to gain a better understanding of the unexpected battery capacity loss reported by[…]

After many months of consistent work with Congress, Plug In America is extremely gratified that two major plug-in tax credits which expired at the end of 2011 were extended as part of the final “fiscal cliff” legislation just signed by President Obama. The bill passed last night (January 1st) extended[…]

We’re rolling through the Pacific Northwest in Chad’s Model S just past 4 AM in the morning. We’re virtually gliding to Portland, headed to another briefing with colleagues on the outreach plans ahead – one that we’ve done dozens of times in key cities and states as we set a[…]

In the summer of 2012, news emerged of Nissan LEAF owners in Tucson, AZ, and other hot-climate areas experiencing unexpectedly large losses of battery capacity. This caused quite a stir in the LEAF owner community. The thread discussing this issue on the My Nissan LEAF (MNL) forum has over 5,000[…]

As of today, winter solstice 2012, I have been driving electric vehicles for ten straight years and generating the electricity for them from sunlight. When Zan and I bought that RAV4 EV we had no idea how it would change our lives, but change them it did. The RAV was[…]

Electric vehicles are awesome for local driving. Driving within the single-charge range of an electric vehicle is more fun, more convenient, and cheaper than driving a gas car. Many people are drawn to the idea that they can abandon gas stations, fuel at home, drive 130 miles for the cost[…]

Let Big Oil Buy Your EV! Since turning from EV activist to EV advocate to EV salesman, I’ve watched the development and ultimate sale of the Nissan LEAF, and from more of a distance, the Volt, as they burst into the market early last year. At first, we couldn’t come[…]

I’ve been driving electric vehicles since 2008, logging over 50,000 miles, and have never had an experience where my vehicle’s lack of engine noise created an unsafe situation. However, the issue of quiet vehicles and pedestrians is subtle and complex. I have had a pedestrian walk backwards through the traffic[…]

As the significance of a successful second National Plug In Day settled in (one ABC affiliate called it the start of a “new era” in their local reporting), several participants worked together on the following statement. Thanks to everybody who helped make National Plug In Day a tremendous success! TENS[…]

What a wonderful celebration we are seeing across the country for this second National Plug In Day. We would like to send a hearty thank you from Plug In America to the many thousands of people participating in National Plug In Day events in over 60 cities across the country.[…]

Are you tired of the poor reporting about plug-ins, too? We sure are. The Washington Post recently published a terribly poor editorial – our response follows below. To the editors: Over 50,000 Americans have a very different view than the Washington Post s recent, surprising portrayal of the GM Volt.[…]

We announced in our August newsletter the new Plug In Pioneers program we are launching to support our “Takes a Driver to Make a Driver” campaign. You can hear more about it in our featured podcast with Chad Schwitters and Kirk Brown. We’ll have an announcement of our charter participants[…]

Hello Plug In America supporters! After working non-stop for the past couple of days on some important issues in DC, Jay Friedland, Plug In America’s Policy Director, came up for air to update us on this recent Plug In America policy action. Thank you all who mobilized to help –[…]

  The Senate Finance Committee has removed three key EV tax credits – for electric motorcycles, electric vehicle infrastructure, and electric vehicle conversions from a “tax extenders” package to be voted on early Thursday morning. Plug In America has been working hard to gain extensions of these incentives and we[…]

Yesterday, Cathy and I gave a presentation on electric vehicles for high school students participating in Energy Week at Central Washington University. We started with explaining that electric vehicles should not be marketed like they are medicine, some bitter pill we should all be willing to swallow for the good[…]

The city of Sammamish, WA, recently purchased two Nissan LEAFs, and I helped make that happen by assisting the city director of community development in evaluating the total cost of ownership of the LEAF compared to gas cars the city was considering purchasing. I got involved in helping the city[…]

Free educational webinars on topics related to the emerging plug in market are a relatively new project for us at Plug In America. Some cover the basics; others are more technical. The registration and attendance information from our most recent webinar: Everything you Wanted to Know About Charging But Were[…]

The movie, “Revenge of the Electric Car” is now available on Netflix to watch instantly! If you haven’t had a chance to see this terrific movie on the emergence of the new electric vehicle industry, now you can see it tonight! The movie follows the individuals behind the new wave[…]

People often tell me that they like the idea of plug-in vehicles but they are just too expensive. Some of them haven’t driven a plug-in and assume the cars aren’t worth much, so they expect them to be very cheap. Others realize that plug-ins have many advantages and are willing[…]

You know the old fire (or combustion) triangle? The concept that for something to burn, it requires a spark, fuel and oxygen? I think for a successful charge station installation, you have a similar set of requirements. You need good hardware, a good management policy, and a good group of[…]

We are pleased to announce that we have retained Kirk Brown to serve as Plug In America’s Managing Director. This is an important moment for the EV movement and Plug In America. While progress is being made in bringing vehicles to market and securing infrastructure for them, we must substantially[…]

We’ve been working across the political spectrum for plug-ins at the local, state, federal, and even international level over the past year. It continues to be a volatile time for PHEV and BEV policy work, with new issues around charging infrastructure, incentives, access, and consumer protection happening weekly. As the[…]

Fabio is featured in Kelly Olson’s video with EV activist / actress Alexandra Paul. Watch Fabio as he displays his gigantic motorcycle collection and proudly shows off the latest addition to that collection: a brand new all-electric Zero Motorcycle. Hear why Fabio was “totally blown away” by his introduction to[…]

Plug-in electric vehicles are far better for the environment than gasoline vehicles, even on the current grid. They are not zero-impact–no car ever will be–but they are a major leap forward now, and will get even better as the grid improves (which is underway; coal use has gone from 52%[…]

Last December, I started collecting data for a study of the current state of EV Charging Infrastructure. Dozens of Plug In America supporters volunteered to survey local charging sites belonging to the Blink and ChargePoint networks and report on things like parking policy, station condition and station availability. Combining that[…]

It felt like a scene from Revenge of the Electric Car when I met Bob Lutz at the North American International Auto Show in January. I was in Detroit to preview the new electrified cars for Plug In America. After just seeing 3 screenings of Chris Paine’s documentary, I had[…]

Contrary to unrelenting media chatter, the demand for Chevy Volts is up. Clarification: It most certainly is up at Chevrolet of Irvine in Orange County, California. According to Chevy salesman Bob Skeffington, the snappy, extended range vehicles are moving off the lot almost as quickly as they can be trucked[…]

Chevy’s advertising for the Volt has confounded many. Whether they’re playing to people’s fears, or using apologetic marketing, as in the “More Car Than Electric” campaign, fans of plug-ins have never quite been sure if GM is just tone-deaf, or if they’ve re-hired the same marketing department that produced the[…]

Plug In America has worked extremely hard to gain more consumer incentives for plug-in vehicles and we are gratified to see this new presidential policy proposal which will increase the Federal tax credit to $10,000 and make it available at point of purchase. We will work with Congress to try[…]

Fear of plugging in Most people are afraid of plug-in vehicles. It’s not a knife-wielding-psycho kind of fear; it’s more of a broccoli-is-good-for-you kind of wary. They have heard that plug-ins are good for America’s economy, energy security and the environment; but they don’t want to endure the sacrifices that[…]

The EV Charging Infrastructure Survey Plug In America is conducting a study of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the US. As part of this study, we are conducting a survey of charging sites. The goal of this survey is to answer a simple question: If an EV driver goes to[…]

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI has added the EV1 to their “Automobile in American Life” exhibit. The museum contacted Plug In America back in September, looking for high-resolution photos of EV1s from our website. The museum already had an EV1 on display, but wanted to create an informational[…]

It’s getting tiresome reading all these hit jobs on renewable energy and electric vehicles. First Solyndra, and now Ener1. In any emerging industry, there will be winners and losers, but the goal is still achieved in the end, a clean, domestic, renewable energy industry powering domestically produced electric vehicles. This[…]

As a young EV activist, I am often asked why I don’t drive a plug-in vehicle myself. While EVs are an extremely popular topic among people in my age group, few of us drive them. It may seem hypocritical of us, but there are several reasons why EVs haven’t penetrated[…]

CARB Board Chair Mary Nichols negotiated a special deal which would dramatically weaken the California ZEV program allowing automakers that overcomply with the new Federal GHG standards so they get away with producing less EVs. This sweetheart deal allows an automaker to cut the number of pure electric-drive vehicles by[…]

In September, we finally got our Nissan Leaf. We had signed up very early in the process, and could have had a Leaf in the spring of 2011, but we decided to put our order on hold until they offered the cold weather package. It was worth the wait! It’s[…]

Our nemesis, range anxiety Many gas drivers are reluctant to try a plug-in vehicle, and often they are not timid about letting us know it. The most common reason is that they are afraid the battery charge will run out unexpectedly and they will have to wait for a charge–perhaps[…]

“Gas Anxiety” is very common among plug-in vehicle owners. Although most of us still have access to gas propulsion, we would rather not use it. Not when cheaper, cleaner, quieter, smoother, responsive and torquey electric drive using domestic fuel is available! So we go through all sorts of gyrations to[…]

At the end of 2011, three of our key federal electric vehicle tax credits will expire: incentives for consumers and businesses installing charging stations, affordable two and three-wheeled EVs, and those for plug-in conversions will all be left behind. But what keeps me awake at night are ongoing challenges to[…]

Recently, I took a quick trip from Santa Monica down to Cypress, CA. to the headquarters of Mitsubishi USA to visit with David Patterson, Chief Engineer, Mobile Emissions Regulatory Affairs & Certification for Mitsubishi’s R&D division. He is the guy to talk to about their iMiEV the next EV to[…]

2011 has been another triumphant year bringing plug in vehicles to the marketplace, and it’s time to celebrate! Join us at Party with the Plug Ins, our fall gala and awards celebration. This year we will be on Treasure Island in San Francisco at the beautiful Winery SF. The doors[…]

Special for Plug In America by Alexandra Paul I have a lifelong phobia of organizing get-togethers. I avoid anything more complicated than having my book club over for a potluck. So what did I say when Zan Dubin Scott, Plug In America’s Communications Director, asked me to recruit EVs for[…]

Last week, Cathy and I took the Roadster for a car show and week of island hopping through Washington’s San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It was a lovely trip and unique in our EV road trip experiences in that we did the entire 450-mile trip using[…]

Plug In America met with staff in Governor Brown’s office yesterday to discuss AB475. It was clear that lobbyists for GM and other stakeholders have been working hard to sway their opinion We were able to educate them not only on why it is important to get this issue right,[…]

Assembly Bill 475 has already passed both houses of the legislature and now sits on the Governor s desk awaiting his signature. The bill was designed to update and streamline the restrictions for parking in public charging spaces. However, after numerous amendments, AB 475 now hurts more than helps consumers[…]

You requested it, you got it! Plug In America has updated our Plug-In Vehicle Tracker to allow filtering of vehicles by availability. When visiting the updated Vehicle Tracker, you will notice a new filter option, entitled “Availability”. The new filter will let you view only vehicles that are either currently[…]

If you live in California, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard about “Carmageddon”, the closure of I-405 on the weekend of July 16th. To escape from this traffic nightmare, Plug In America member Renee Swenson organized an “Escape from LA” Tesla Roadster rally. Around 10 Roadsters drove from Los Angeles[…]

Yes, we love Nissan’s brilliant new Leaf ad! Especially because it looks SO much like our very own “Cell Phone” Public Service Announcement (PSA), distributed worldwide in November 2010. Are we sayin’ that one of the world’s largest automakers, capable of hiring one of the world’s largest advertising conglomerates, copied[…]

I recently had the privilege of driving what I secretly fantasized might be the clandestine automotive love child of an illicit tryst that could have occurred in the midnight hours between my 2001 RAV4 EV and 2008 Tesla Roadster whilst parked next to each other in the garage. Bill Bergen,[…]

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu deserves his Nobel Prize just for his stance on EVs, alone. Chu said a few words at a recent L.A. press conference announcing installation of Coulomb Technologies’ 500th charger. Mayor Villaraigosa was there to bask in the green glow, as was Coulomb’s founder & CTO,[…]

Plug In America inspires change, but it’s the actions of Plug In America’s supporters that are the most inspiring. One example: Andrew Bell. He took the initiative to create what may be the first plug-in hybrid in his province, Alberta, Canada (population > 3 million). It took determination, but as[…]

In “The Real Price of Energy”, which appeared in Friday’s Los Angeles Times, and can be read here, Ronald Brownstein argues that the price of oil, and electricity from nuclear or coal, fails to reflect the cost of catastrophic disasters, or chronic environmental harm. Federal oil drillers are liable “only[…]

Some people claim that electric vehicles failed about 10 years ago in California, because people don’t really want them. I would contest that. Electric vehicles were withdrawn and destroyed by their manufacturers as soon as they were legally able to do so, but during the time they were offered, the[…]

Plug In America this week sent copies of our consumer resource guide, “Charged Up & Ready To Roll: The Definitive Guide To Plug-in Electric Vehicles,” to all main libraries in Florida, funded by a generous donation from supporter Andrew Roddy. Last week we sent the guide to all main libraries[…]

The Sierra Club, the largest and one of the most influential environmental organizations in the United States, today launched its Go Electric campaign to promote switching from gasoline to electric vehicles (EVs). This may be the biggest commitment to plug-in vehicles any environmental organization has shown so far. The World[…]

Plug In America has mailed copies of its consumer resource guide, “Charged Up & Ready To Roll: The Definitive Guide To Plug-in Electric Vehicles” to every public library in California, Washington and Oregon. The states that will see the most new EVs and PHEVs in the coming year now have[…]

As I write this, at least two of Plug In America’s co-founders have taken possession of their new Nissan Leaf electric cars, and three drive Tesla Roadsters. Other drivers are steering new Chevy Volt plug-in hybrids on the roads. More are being delivered every day. Is Plug In America’s work[…]

“I read the news today, oh boy About a lucky man who made the grade” On the verge of coming down with a cold, it was a pleasant surprise to hear from Tim Gallagher, Nissan’s West Coast Communications Manager. He gave me the news that I could borrow a LEAF[…]

Perhaps taking their cue from the historic events taking place in Egypt, the members of the Chevrolet Volt Customer Advisory Board (CAB) are staging a mini-revolt of their own. Chelsea Sexton shared this with us: “Just a funny little diversion, but a few of you might enjoy it. The Volt[…]

In some ways, it’s a bit premature to be reaching out to auto dealers, since most of them aren’t yet selling electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). On the other hand, now is the time to let them know that Plug In America can help them succeed when they[…]

Trading a gas pump for a plug is a wonderful thing. It’s far more convenient, takes less of your time, and saves you from breathing toxic fumes and smelling like gas for hours after fueling. Charging is a different experience than pumping gas and understanding the subtleties takes time. I’ve[…]

Almost no one has been pushing for plug-in hybrids longer than the two guys behind CalCars.org — Felix Kramer and Ron Gremban. They recently took delivery of their new Chevy Volts and brought them to Luscious Garage in San Francisco for show-and-tell at the monthly meeting of the San Francisco[…]

Savvy consumers snapped up most of the 20,000 initial orders for the new Nissan Leaf electric car and uncounted thousands of orders for the new Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid (or extended-range electric vehicle, if you prefer). But individual consumers aren’t the only ones. Some major commercial fleet managers looking at[…]

Like many of us, the grassroots political action organization MoveOn.org is figuring out its end-of-year charitable donations strategy. You can help them decide! Vote here before Dec. 29 and choose Plug In America’so that MoveOn.org will ask its 5 million supporters across the United States to contribute to our educational[…]

It feels like just last week that we were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of 2010, the year of the plug-ins. And here we are today, 2010 is nearly over and we have production EVs from major automakers on the road. Let’s take a look at a few of the[…]

There’s nothing quite like a seasonal boat parade party to rev up ye old holiday spirit, and this year’s lineup of extravagantly lit and decorated vessels gliding past our Huntington Harbor home was no exception. My husband Howard and I took advantage of the nautical spectacle and hosted not one,[…]

Professor Andrew Frank of the University of California, Davis has been designing, building, and advocating for plug-in hybrids longer than just about anyone — 30 years or more. Felix Kramer and Ron Gremban, the indefatigueable duo behind the non-profit California Cars Initiative (CalCars), put the drive for plug-in hybrids on[…]

Just wanted to let you know that the tax bill with the EV infrastructure tax credit extension passed the House late tonight 277-148. It extends the EV infrastructure tax credit for one year until 12/31/2011 at pre-stimulus levels. This means that the tax credit on an EV charger is 30%[…]

I’ve got a LEAF for a few days. Very exciting. I’ll have a full report soon. But I’ve got to mention one frustration I’ve encountered. Restricted charge stations. In San Francisco at this moment there are, I believe, six deployed new J1772 charge stations. One, a ParkPod unit in the[…]

Today, Plug In America launched our fourth PSA, Clothes, which uses clothing as an analogy for vehicle maintenance. Compared to other fuel types, electric cars need very little maintenance, meaining less waste in the landfill and more money in your pocket. In the 45 second clip, electric simply puts on[…]

With all of the talk about the coming electric cars, I’d like to share ten reasons why we should be excited about finally having an electric choice in affordable, practical, freeway-capable cars. My wife and I have been driving pure electric vehicles for over two years now, we no longer[…]

Last year the US Government approved tax credits for EV charging infrastructure of 50% up to $2,000 for individuals and $50,000 for businesses. Unfortunately this tax credit expires 12/31/2010. Just as plug-in cars are about to get on the road is absolutely the wrong time to end this tax credit.[…]

Plug In America’s third PSA, “Hype,” ran on national television today, from start to finish. This is a historic first for us. Sure, we’ve been on the big screen (“Who Killed the Electric Car?”) and our protests and talking-points covered by local TV news. But whodathunk FOX would be the[…]

“How far can you REALLY go?” My wife and I both drive electric cars, so we get asked that question a lot. It is almost identical to the “what MPG will I get?” question in a gas car, which also cannot be answered with a single number. The same things[…]

If you still haven’t heard, several weeks ago, Plug In America released the first two of our seven brand new Public Service Announcements. We released them online, and asked our supporters to contact their local TV stations to request that they air our PSAs. We already have several television stations[…]

Are you ready to behold the vision of electric cars up on the silver screen once again? While the new film documentary What is the Electric Car?  doesn’t have the high drama of Who Killed the Electric Car?  with the attendant spectacle of EVs heading to the crusher, it does[…]

We’ve been saying “It’s coming, it’s coming” for so long now. It feels so good to finally be able to say “It’s here!” Today marks a milestone. After months and months of proposals, design, implementation, and lots and lots of debugging, the new pluginamerica.org takes its first steps. Please bear[…]

Our power grid is a matrix of supply feeders, closely resembling a window screen, where a thread of the fabric strand runs in two directions, across and down. When superimposed onto a street map, every household, apartment complex and business has connectivity. Neighborhoods are stitched together via larger feeders and[…]

Washington and Oregon jockey for plug-in leadership Yesterday Plug In America President Dan Davids and I attended Get Plug-in Ready–Now! in Bellevue, Washington. It was a regional, one-day workshop to help public and private entities prepare for the arrival of electric vehicles this Fall. It was organized by Puget Sound[…]

West Coast Green. The Green Drive Expo. Bioneers. And the West Coast Corridor Coalition. Which of these events fits under the category of “pro-environment”? If you answered “all of the above,” you’d be right. This is just a West Coast sampling of the many events Plug In America will be[…]

Plug In America member Sara Bissig and her husband Jimmy have a very visible all-electric taxi service in The Woodlands community north of oil-rich Houston, Texas.Their two Go Green Eco Taxis faithfully deliver passengers around town in clean, chic electric style.The larger of the two Sky Car neighborhood electric vehicles[…]

Summer’s almost over, but it’s not too late to get in on Plug In America’s summer reading special deal — two great books for the price of one. Place your order before Labor Day to take advantage of this offer. For a $10 donation (plus $3 flat rate shipping), we’ll[…]

One hot summer day when I was a child, my parents took me to the county fair. This was an unusual event for us, and we were there all day. We didn’t get home until late, so I went straight to bed–exhausted, yet excited and happy. The way I felt[…]

Electric vehicle advocate, adventurer, technology evangelist, businessman, computer expert and Tesla road warrior Chad Schwitters recently became Plug In America’s newest board member. PIA’s multi-talented new guy hails from Redmond, Washington where his oh-so-green garage houses not one, not two but THREE plug-in vehicles. Chad has served his state by[…]

I recently had the honor of dining with fellow Tesla roadster owner Howard Dunholter, who at 98 years of age is clearly not your “typical” Tesla enthusiast. Howard’s interest in EVs began way back in 1921 when he was a ten-year-old tot. He remembers watching lamp-like electric horseless carriages gliding[…]

The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association held their 2010 EV Awareness Day on Saturday, July 10. Kelli and I arrived the day before. We were told the weather had been rainy and cold, but by Friday it had turned hot and sunny. Pioneer Square, affectionately known as Portland’s “living room”, was[…]

Just how plugged in are you going to be this summer? How about electrifying your hazy-crazy-lazy days of summer by joining Plug In America from July 26-29 for this year’s Plug-In 2010 Conference and Exposition at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center? You’ll find Plug In America at the entrance[…]

Th!nk was my first electric car, leased from Ford in 2002-2004. My wife and I loved that little car and were heartbroken when Ford canceled all Th!nk leases. Six years later, I got to drive the Th!nk again. (Photos: New Th!nk in red, old Th!nk in blue.) The company has[…]

Dawn broke early this morning in Yokohama, and I was awake to see it since I was still on west coast time. I also couldn’t sleep given this was the day I would finally get to drive the actual Leaf EV, not a converted mule like those I’d driven before.[…]

Eight Plug In America EV drivers recently lined up to test drive a demo Think City electric vehicle. Tim Cunningham, Sales Manager for the Western Region, met the group on June 9 at the Costa Mesa ASG Renaissance Regional Headquarters parking lot for a Q & A huddle prior to[…]

Shanghai is a mind blower. Exuberant, flashy skyscrapers dot the landscape soaring above the city’s overhead freeways, many claiming their place in the skyline with decorative, synchronized light shows. Immense shopping malls with every major international brand represented are packed with locals out merely for a stroll, the newly rich[…]

Brammo brought its electric Enertia motorcycle for test rides at the June 5 meeting of the San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association, and people seemed to like what they rode. I don’t have a motorcycle license, and it’s a one-seater, so instead of a first-hand account I interviewed two experienced riders[…]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoH85zHD8Sk&feature=youtu.be Seems my blog post last week about GM planning an all-electric version of the Volt caused a bit of a stir. Not surprising, given the way this news came out. So let me recap how it happened, and you can decide for yourself whether you believe it or not.[…]

This is a big deal. Biggest EV news since Carlos Ghosn got religion. I just watched the press conference where Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda announced an agreement. Toyota’s investing in Tesla. Tesla’s buying the NUMMI factory. The Model S and subsequent vehicles will be made[…]

VW has released some more information on its electric plans. Look for an e-Golf to be launched in 2013. 93 mile range from a 26.5 kWh lithium battery pack. Similar to the LEAF or RAV4-EV, the car weighs about 3400 pounds, a few hundred pounds heavier than the gas/diesel versions.[…]

So what’s it like to consistently be upstaged by the car you drive — a radiant red beauty that often captures photographers’ lens, draws small crowds in supermarket parking lots and appraising looks on freeways? This particular car honestly seems to have as much personality as Christine in the movie[…]

Plug In America leaders and guests drove the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid in San Francisco and got some cheery news from GM about an all-electric version that will follow 6 months after the Volt’s launch in late 2010. GM reps set up cones for a test-drive route in a parking[…]

For the first time on U.S. soil, electric motorcycle racers will compete in the first round of the international TTXGP eGrand Prix on May 14-16, 2010 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Don’t ask me what TTXGP stands for. Anybody know? It’s not apparent on the eGrand Prix website, but[…]

What can be said about the BP oil spill that hasn’t already been said? Plenty — and you and I should be saying it. I’m inspired today by Plug In America co-founder Lisa Rosen, who wrote this in a letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times that begins:[…]

South Coast Plaza, the swanky mega-mall located in Orange County, recently installed a Coulomb network charging station alongside an already-installed Clipper Creek CS-40 charger. Both charging stations are located side-by-side in an underground parking structure beneath the Crate and Barrel Home Store at 3333 Bear Street in Costa Mesa. Mall[…]

Quick — name the consumer product with the highest rate of recycling. Aluminum cans? Nah, a relatively wimpy 50%-80% get recycled. If you’ve been paying attention to Plug In America’s FAQ page, you might guess car batteries — and you’d be right. As John Voelcker reported last week in an[…]

Plug In America’supporters tend to come in two flavors — environmentalists and people who are concerned about national security (though many overlap). On Earth Day 2010, both have reason to celebrate a new report, “Reenergizing America’s Defense: How the Armed Forces Are Stepping Forward To Combat Climate Change and Improve[…]

When I met up with Tesla road warrior Chad Schwitters on April 8 at the LA Tesla store, he was headed north on the 405 back home to Redmond, Washington after driving his roadster to San Diego. It was a convenient meet-up for us two ferocious EV advocates at Tesla’s[…]

After running for several years in stealth mode, Nissan reached out to Plug In America two years ago revealing their plans to build an EV for the average consumer, something that would serve the daily driving needs of the vast majority of the world’s drivers. Fast forward to March 29th[…]

I got to test drive a Chevy Volt today along with a cluster of delighted EV advocates including my friend Jordan Howard, who brought along her 1-year-old sister, Jade. You get it already. The instant Jordan slipped behind the wheel with her sibling, the revelatory thought came to mind among[…]

photo: Nissan Leaf Gallery So you want to buy a LEAF? Nissan laid out a rough outline of their ordering process in a February press release. Registering Nissan says that “registrants will be given first priority” to reserve the car. To be more specific, this means that people who registered[…]

Plug In America’s team is in Tennessee for a few days! We were Invited by Nissan to have some face time with the entire Leaf team and see where the cars and batteries will be produced here in America’s heartland. We’re in Franklin… just 1/2 hour outside of Nashville with[…]

The public often has the general impression that Plug In America is California-centric. Given our history and our headquarters, this is only natural. However, EV interest is thriving across the United States. We’re doing our best to support this. Plug In America members and supporters bode from small rural towns[…]

Did I only imagine the hush that fell over the EV world today after Nissan’s all-electric LEAF hatchback pricing announcement? I fantasized that the very tree leaves– recognizing an automotive kindred spirit– stopped rustling in the spring breeze at the long-awaited news. Before incentives the Nissan LEAF — will cost[…]

In a random, nationwide survey of 1,752 U.S. adults, 26% said they’re likely to consider buying a plug-in electric car the next time they’re buying a new vehicle, according to ConsumerReports.org. That’s tremendously impressive, considering that only one highway-capable electric vehicle (EV) is on the market today, the pricey Tesla[…]

If there’s a better idea zapping through the universal ethers than electrification of commercial fleet vans, I don’t know what it might be. Delivery vehicles — whether USPS vans or commercial delivery vans — often meander down the same limited-range, precise path day-after-day. The benefits of commercial van electrification to[…]

In 2001 I began driving an electric car, obtaining the last of the ZEV mandate-required EVs. As I got turned on to the benefits and technological readiness of electric cars, the writing was on the wall and EVs began to disappear from California’s roads. I got enthused just as the[…]

There’s a lot of money being thrown around in the direction of electric vehicles these days, and where there’s money, there are scammers and quick-buck manipulators. One of the jobs of journalists is to protect us by checking out information before passing it on. Last week, much of the media[…]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelastminute/ / CC BY 2.0 Julia Perry asked us on Facebook about maintenance and repairs of electric cars: “I want to know more about how these cars will be supported from a maintenance/repairs perspective (at least, that’s what my husband keeps nagging me about). Thanks.” Julia, by “these cars”, I[…]

We’ve been hearing a lot about range anxiety lately. Plug In America addresses that persistent, pulse-accelerating concern in its Top 12 Plug-in Electric Vehicle Myths. In fact, range anxiety is listed as numero uno: MYTH # 1: EVs don’t have enough range. You’ll be stranded when you run out of[…]

This is the second in our short series of potential guest bloggers (if Plug In America’starts a guest blog in addition to “In the Driver’s Seat”). Chad Schwitters of Seattle describes the mental conversions that happen when one starts driving on electricity. As profiled in “Charged Up & Ready To[…]

A few weeks ago while cleaning out some hideously cluttered household drawers, I happened upon an old greeting card that my daughter Robin gave me years ago when she was a little girl. What really struck me about this long-forgotten card, though, was the card’s Hallmark message: “If You Empower[…]

One way to measure progress in our efforts to get plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) back on the market is this: Five years ago, Plug In America’s founders were trying to attract media attention to the demand for EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). Today, the electrification of transportation is so much[…]

During the last two weeks a team here at Plug In America has reached out to nearly thirty cities and government agencies across the United States and Canada seeking samples of EV-specific model ordinances. Specifically we’ve been searching for codified language that shows a city is serious about welcoming plug-in[…]

“In the Driver’s Seat” brings you news and commentary from Plug In America’s board and staff. We’re considering creating a guest blog as well, which would feature posts by a selection of Plug In America’s most active volunteers. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting some samples of the[…]

Nearly all the talk about batteries for electric cars has focused on lithium-ion batteries in recent years, but the battery champions of the last generation of electric vehicles — nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH) — may be poised for a bit of a comeback. That’s the suggestion in Paul Weissler’s excellent[…]

It’s been crystal clear for some months that BMW would be making more EVs after getting nothing but high praise for its little 500 car MINI E experiment. Not so much for the logistical foul ups in their haste to deploy the fleet in time for valuable CARB credits, but[…]

The journalistic bastion of the business world is spreading confidence about the new era of plug-in electric vehicles through a quiz for its readers. While I could quibble with a few of their questions and assumptions, this quiz is nothing but good news. Sure, they confuse electric vehicles with plug-in[…]

Last Friday, Chelsea Sexton dropped off the cute little Mitsubishi iMiEV (pronounced I-meev) test car. She and her husband, Bob, had been driving it for a week, and now it was our turn. This version is a right-hand drive built for the Japanese market. Driving from the right side of[…]

The last time I blogged on these pages, my blog caused enough negative reaction that I was told to add a disclaimer unless I was certain that my views reflected those of every Plug In America board member. Well, let me just say this: Disclaimer! This blog consists of my[…]

My partner is in rapture with his new iTouch. The other day he suddenly discovered links to learn Korean, or pick up yoga poses, all for free. “Oh look,” he declared, “they have all the Nicholas Stern lectures.” “Wow, how about living off the grid.” His curiosity began to crescendo.[…]

Plug In America board members Paul Scott, Mike Kane and I recently had the privilege of meeting with Balwinder Samra, CEO and founder of Balqon Corporation at the company’s headquarters in Harbor City, California. Balqon Corp was founded in 2005 when AQMD and the Port of LA partnered to fund[…]

I’m a relatively new iPhone user, but I think I’ve already found my favorite app of all time — the EV Charger Finder app. Jeff Lander, who drives an electric BMW Mini, created this free app utilizing the best database of EV charging locations that exists — Tom Dowling’s evchargernews.com.[…]

Coda Automotive brought its all-electric sedan for show-and-tell and test rides at the San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association (SFEVA) meeting on February 6. Plug In America’s Sherry Boschert, Marc Geller, and Jeanne Trombly were there to check it out. If you’ve been following the electric vehicle (EV) space for awhile,[…]

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Moloughney — MINI E driver and owner of the Montclair, New Jersey restaurant, Nauna’s Bella Casa. Like many other fortunate Plug In America’supporters, Tom drives an electric vehicle. But unlike any other known EV driver, Tom has driven his BMW-leased MINI E[…]

San Francisco City Administrator Edwin Lee told guests at Plug In America’s benefit party last week that the City is working with all nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area to ensure a 24-hour turn-around for electric vehicle charging station permits and inspections. (Pictured: Plug In America’s Sherry Boschert[…]

So you’ve finally got your electric car. You’re going out of town for a few days and recall a few spots at the airport parking lot that have a regular 110-volt electric outlet on the wall. Do you plug in your Tesla (or Nissan LEAF or Chevy Volt)? Are you[…]

Have you seen GM’s new video about how the Volt functions? It’s a good, clear, basic explanation. But it delivers a message that really steams me. It blithely advises that “you won’t have to adjust your life” with an extended range vehicle. Oh thank God. Clearly GM means to draw[…]

Plug In America gets the most interesting calls. Last week we heard from a representative of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), which is working with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to help devise electric vehicle training materials for the nation s emergency response workforce. Funded by a three[…]

Darryl Siry blogs over at Wired’s Autopia. He’s pretty plugged in, having worked at Tesla and consulted for CODA. He’s a bit surprised, as are all of us, that Nissan has emerged as the first big automaker to manufacture a mass-produced electric car. In his recent post, “In Race to[…]

It’s winter. You’re on the treadmill or the stationary bicycle at the gym, listening to your iPod or other portable digital device. Or you’re washing the dishes after dinner, ear buds feeding you the latest sounds of — what? It could be Plug In America’s podcast, with our mellifluous host,[…]

It’s official, the Cadillac Converj is to be the second extended-range electric vehicle after the Volt. I may be most interested affordable electric cars, but this makes sense to me. I only wish GM had the smarts back in the day to have rebranded the EV1 as a Caddy and[…]

Environment America today released a new report, Plug-in Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future that I encourage you to download (it’s free), read, and let others know about. What a joy to read, on so many levels. The report gets it right, using the terminology that Plug In America[…]