New Jersey State Capital Plays Host To Electric Vehicle Ride And Drive Event
Committee Moves Bill (S2252) to Create Infrastructure and Incentives to Grow the Market
Trenton, NJ – The electric cars hardly make a sound, so expressions of surprise and delight were the loudest sounds heard during the day-long “Ride-and-Drive” event which turned West State Street into “Electric Avenue.” Legislative leadership, Commissioners and state staff gathered at the New Jersey State House Annex in Trenton on Monday to get a firsthand opportunity to drive an electric car in New Jersey’s capital city. The event was organized by ChargEVC and brought together state lawmakers, cabinet members, staffers and advocates to offer direct experience and education around electric vehicles.
“Today is the start of an electrification revolution for our transportation sector across New Jersey. The largest source of air pollution and global warming emissions comes from our cars, trucks and buses — it’s time to go electric. New Jersey can be a leader on electric vehicles, and this bill will jumpstart our electric vehicle infrastructure and electrify our transit buses. To clean up our air and our lungs, the future of transportation is electric, and we need that future to start now,” said Doug O’Malley, Executive Director of Environment New Jersey and President ChargEVC.
Jim Appleton, President of NJCAR which represents over 500 franchise new car and truck dealers, and ChargEVC officer, explains further “We understand this is a process, and like anything new, there are a lot of questions. That’s why the opportunity to look, touch and drive electric cars is so beneficial. It brings a dose of reality – and excitement — to something previously unknown.”
This “Ride-and-Drive” is a small part of a bigger education and outreach approach to reaching target goals to get New Jersey on a path to 100 percent clean energy by 2050, including migrating 330,000 cars on the road to electric by 2025, since electric vehicles will play a critical part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
With the electric cars parked along State Street, officials were able to get a firsthand look and feel for how they work, and how they drive. Many attendees took advantage of driving one across town, while others got to see how bigger vehicles such as a Proterra electric bus and BYD Electric Refuse Truck are also being powered by electricity.
“Our state has forward-thinking leaders who are facing the big issues. Now we need to align the market incentives to fulfill on the goals of clean transportation,” said Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC. “The technology is in place and the analysis is clear. Next step is to legislate the right combination of incentives for auto dealers and consumers, public health advocates and environmentalists to realize the win that is represented by a transition to Zero Emission Vehicles.”
In that vein, organizers applauded the Committee Substitute bill S-2252 sponsored by Senator Bob Smith, heard at Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Monday. The companion bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin.
The legislation integrates all aspects of public policy to enshrine the Governor’s target goals and creates incentives, so these vehicles can be marketed to sell and consumers confident that pumping stations will be comfortably in range of their travels. “All of these elements are essential and inter-dependent,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “This bill gets the wheels in motion to bring the entire system to viability, so we can finally begin to realize the benefits of electric transportation for public health and a sustainable environment.”
In specific, the bill directs the utilities to make filings that establish the Essential Charging Public Network, authorizes a rebate program to make electric vehicles more accessible to mainstream customers and creates a multi-agency Electric Vehicle Working Group to help plan for future EV growth. The bill, S-2252 cleared the committee 4-1.
“The Ride-and-Drive event was a great showcase of what these vehicles can do and how attainable they can be for our constituents,” said Assemblywoman Pinkin (D- Middlesex). Getting more of these cars on the road bring benefits to all in the form of lower electricity costs and cleaner air. The health, economic, and environmental benefits are vital to residents of New Jersey.”
“Adoption of electric vehicles is essential to slowing global warming,” said Joseph Fiordaliso, President of the Board of Public Utilities. “Our goal is to continue to implement Governor Murphy’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also providing our residents with safe and reliable transportation.”
In April, Governor Murphy announced that New Jersey was joining the clean-car initiative to bolster the sale of zero-emission vehicles. New Jersey is one of nine states to fight the Trump administration over steps to weaken tough rules that reduce carbon pollution from cars.
The electric vehicle ride-and-drive events continue across the state:
- Tuesday, October 23, 2018 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm at the Asbury Hotel, 210 5th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ. Event is hosted by Environment New Jersey and Jersey Renews. EV Ride and Drive provided by ChargEVC. Open to the public.
- Monday, October 29, 2018 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 575 East 18th Street, Paterson, NJ. Event is hosted by GreenFaith and Jersey Renews and includes a multi-faith blessing of EVs. EV Ride and Drive provided by ChargEVC. Open to the public.
- Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at ACUA Facility, Atlantic City, NJ. Event and EV Ride and Drive hosted by ChargEVC. VIP- Invite Only- Event for NJ League of Municipalities Conference Attendees.