Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Electric Department today announced that it has added plug-in hybrids to its electric vehicle (EV) rebate incentive program, first announced two weeks ago. Through this new program component, members of the Burlington community will be eligible for a $600 rebate on the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid EV with an electric range of 20 or more miles and an MSRP of less than $50,000. The program will add to Burlington Electric’s efforts to meet Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).
Neale Lunderville, Burlington Electric General Manager shows Governor Shumlin an EV station in 2015. BED photo.
The following seven additional plug-in hybrid EVs now are eligible for the rebate incentive:BMW i3 with gas backup; Chevrolet Volt; Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid; Ford C-Max Energi; Ford Fusion Energi; Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid; and Toyota Prius Prime.
“We are glad to add plug-in hybrids to our rebate program mix,” said Neale Lunderville, Burlington Electric General Manager. “Plug-ins are a step in the right direction toward achieving our climate goals. Data shows that many daily commutes can be served in full by plug-in EVs operating on electric range, achieving many of the same benefits for customers that fully electric vehicles offer.”
All Burlington Electric customers, residential and commercial, who register their newly-purchased all-electric and plug-in hybrid EVs in Burlington are eligible to take advantage of this special rebate program, which will be available through the end of 2017 and may be renewed or modified for future years. Customers may purchase a qualifying EV from any dealership in or outside Vermont. After purchasing an EV, customers should complete and submit the rebate form found on the Burlington Electric EV website, along with a copy of the sales receipt, to Energy Services, Burlington Electric, 585 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Customers are limited to one rebate per household or business.
Members of the Burlington community will be eligible for a $1,200 rebate on the purchase or lease of a new EV with an MSRP of less than $50,000. The program will serve as an important component of making Burlington a “net zero energy city” across electric, thermal, and ground transportation sectors and will help Burlington Electric with its efforts to meet Vermont’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES).
“For Burlington to be successful in achieving its net zero energy goal, we must tackle the transportation sector’s significant and growing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “Driving electric is an important part of this environmental strategy to create significant emissions reductions. Once again, Burlington Electric and members of the Burlington community are leading the way in creating solutions to our climate challenges.”
“Today’s launch serves as another example of Burlington Electric’s ongoing commitment to build a sustainable energy future that reduces carbon emissions and supports a growing economy and a thriving community,” stated Neale Lunderville, Burlington Electric General Manager. “The EV incentive program is an important component of our efforts to drive our strategic net zero vision in the transportation sector. We are excited to provide this opportunity for our customers to help with the transition from fossil fuel burning cars to EVs.”
“This is a great incentive for Burlingtonians to seize,” said Johanna Miller, Energy and Climate Action Program Director at the Vermont Natural Resources Council. “Kudos to Burlington Electric for stepping up and making it easier for their customers to invest in electric vehicles. Providing Vermonters clean, affordable, and convenient transportation choices – like renewably-powered electric vehicles or transit – is essential to reducing our collective reliance on fossil fuel-powered vehicles.”
All Burlington Electric customers, residential and commercial, who register their newly-purchased EVs in Burlington are eligible to take advantage of this special rebate program, which will be available through the end of 2017 and may be renewed or modified for future years. Customers may purchase a qualifying EV from any dealership in or outside Vermont. After purchasing an EV, customers should complete and submit the rebate form (found here), along with a copy of the sales receipt, to Energy Services, Burlington Electric, 585 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Customers are limited to one rebate per household or business.
The current list of qualifying EVs, which have ranges between approximately 60 and 230 miles, includes the following: BMW i3 (all electric version), Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Focus Electric, Mercedes Benz B250e, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, Smart Electric Drive, and Volkswagen e-Golf. These EVs also may qualify for a federal tax credit. The Drive Electric Vermont website provides helpful information about these EVs, including their vehicle range, MSRPs, and tax credits. Plug-in hybrids and conventional hybrids do not qualify for this rebate. Customers or dealers with questions about EV eligibility or any other questions related to this program are invited to contact Burlington Electric’s Energy Services team at [email protected].
Burlington Electric is offering this incentive as part of its effort to meet the Tier III requirements of Vermont’s RES, which supports utility programs that help customers reduce fossil fuel use in the heating and transportation sectors.. EVs reduce fossil fuel use and may save money on fuel and maintenance costs compared to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. Pursuant to the RES, passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2015, electric distribution utilities like Burlington Electric are required to procure an increasing percentage of their electric sales from renewable energy. In addition, the RES includes an “energy transformation” requirement, known as Tier III, that tasks electric utilities to look for ways to reduce fossil fuel emissions (even where doing so may increase electric consumption). One way Burlington Electric plans to meet this requirement is through this EV rebate incentive program.
As part of its efforts to encourage more Burlingtonians and Vermonters to go electric and to bolster Vermont’s EV charging stations network, Burlington Electric has installed 13 EV charging stations, totaling 24 charging ports, around the City. Charging stations are located on Main Street near City Hall, in both the Marketplace and Cherry Street parking garages, at Burlington Electric’s Pine Street facility, in strategic locations around the University of Vermont campus, at the Miller Information Commons parking lot at Champlain College, and at Hannaford supermarket in the New North End. A map of EV charging station locations can be found here.
Green Mountain Power has a deal with Freedom Nissan in South Burlington where they will take $10,000 off the purchase of a Nissan Leaf. There is also a $7,500 federal tax credit available for the purchase of an EV. SEE: GMP works with Freedom Nissan to give customers $10,000 off Leaf purchases
Source: Burlington Electric 6.13.2017