Governor Dannel P. Malloy Tuesday announced in a press release Connecticut is making it “cheaper” to purchase or lease an electric vehicle as a result of the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate Program.
The announcement was made at Crowley Ford on New Britain Avenue in Plainville.
Under this new initiative, the governor’s press release explained, a cash rebate of up to $3,000 is now available for Connecticut residents, businesses, and municipalities who purchase or lease an eligible electric vehicle (EV). EVs covered by CHEAPR include battery electric, fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
“This rebate puts money right back in people’s pockets and makes the cost of purchasing or leasing an electric vehicle competitive with the price of a conventional car,” Malloy said, reported the press release. “Putting more Connecticut drivers behind the wheel of an EV is what it will take to drive down harmful carbon emissions linked to climate change, reduce conventional pollutants that threaten our air quality and public health, and help motorists reduce the cost of owning and operating a car.”
The governor continued, the press release said, “As we move further into the 21st Century, new technologies – such as EVs – can help us build a healthy economy, create jobs, and address the energy and environmental challenges we face. These new CHEAPR rebates will provide an added incentive for consumers to embrace new approaches and help lead the way to a more sustainable future.”
Rebates offered through the CHEAPR program are on a sliding scale, with the maximum $3,000 amount for those who purchase or lease an EV with the greatest battery capacity. Rebates of $1,500 and $750 will be provided for EVs that travel shorter distances on battery power, said the press release. Full details are available at www.evconnecticut.com.
Funds for the CHEAPR pilot program, which is being administered through the EVConnecticut program, come from $1 million that was made available to the state as a result of an agreement that allowed for the merger of Northeast Utilities and NSTAR. The merger of those companies, now known as Eversource Energy, was completed on April 12, 2012.
“Electric vehicle incentive programs are extremely effective. Our dealerships have been selling electric vehicles for many years. We know this new rebate will help get more consumers to decide to make this investment in a new car and the environment,” Jim Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association, said, according to the press release. “We want to thank Governor Malloy and Commissioner Klee for having the foresight to secure the funding for this program and continuing to strengthen the electric vehicle market.”
“CHEAPR rebates will help us address carbon emissions in the transportation sector, which is critical to achieving Connecticut’s climate change goals,” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Klee said the press release reported. “The cars and trucks we all drive are the largest single source of carbon emissions in our state, accounting for about 40 percent of the greenhouse gases produced here. Gasoline powered cars and trucks are also the single, biggest in-state source of pollutants that produce ozone. This creates the hazy smog that causes respiratory ailments for thousands of our residents each year during the summer months.”
Gov. Dannel Malloy was in Plainville Tuesday to announce a new electric vehicle initiative