Monthly Archives

March 2021

In Electric Vehicles, Massachusetts, MassEVolves

MassEVolves Spotlight: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth) has undertaken several initiatives to increase education and awareness of electric vehicles (EVs) within the campus community, and is also investing in EV infrastructure and operations. The objective, says Jamie Jacquart, Assistant Director for Campus Sustainability, is “to see that electric vehicles are something that are becoming mainstream and normalized and part of everybody’s experiences.”

UMass Dartmouth’s main campus has two dual port EV charging stations. The university has been working with Eversource and the State Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to finance and install additional EV charging stations on campus.

Last year, UMass Dartmouth held the campus’s first EV test drive event to provide students with the opportunity to look at and test out some electric vehicles, including electric bicycles. For many students, it was their first EV driving experience. The school also provided information about the wide range of EVs available on the market. Many students saw the price as not being a financial barrier.
For them, “EVs were not as expensive as they had thought initially,” Jamie says.

UMass Dartmouth’s main campus hosts two dual port EV charging stations and is working with Eversource and the State Department of Environmental Protection to finance and install additional electric vehicle charging stations on campus. The school plans to add an additional ten dual port chargers to help service the 18 EVs that are being driven to campus on a regular basis.

UMass Dartmouth recently purchased its first electric plugin vehicle, a Prius Prime for parking enforcement staff, with a pledge to add at least one more in 2021. “They are thrilled and excited to be able to drive and spend most of their day on electricity, rather than having to constantly be using gasoline to do that,” says Jamie.

To learn more about UMass Dartmouth, visit umassd.edu. To download the complete MassEVolves UMass Dartmouth PDF case study, click here.

MassEVolves is a statewide initiative conducted by Recharge America in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection. More information about the MassEVolves program is at massevolves.org.

In Electric Vehicles, EV Chargers, EV Research

7 Tips on Moving from Concept to Execution with EV Charger Installations

The case for EV charging for businesses, facility and fleet managers continues to grow. EVs have lower energy and maintenance costs, and offering EV charging is a powerful incentive to attract employees and customers who drive electric.

However, making the decision to initiate a charging process is just one piece of a bigger puzzle. Once you have determined the type of chargers that make the most sense for your needs, careful planning is a must do. Our conversations with organizations who have successfully implemented EV charging programs of their own have provided a few tips for ensuring a successful process.

Tip 1: Incentives might be available! Take time to learn about possible tax credits and rebates: Federal and many state governments and local utilities offer a range of incentives to help you cover the cost of your EV charger stations. The Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act (the CAA) signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020 extends through the end of 2021 a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of purchasing and installing EV charging stations (up to $1,000 for residential installations and up to $30,000 for commercial installations). The credits are retroactive through 2018. President Biden is also pledging to expand EV infrastructure by 500,000 chargers by 2030 and expand federal tax credits for EVs to cover more brands at a higher volume of credits.

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to get significant financial assistance from your state. In Massachusetts, for example, the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP) provides grants for workplaces and multi-unit dwellings. For non-residential sites installing Level 2 charger that is accessible to the public for at least 12 hours a day, MassEVIP can provide up to $6,250 per port, and a maximum of $50,000 for hardware and software costs per site. You can look up state tax credits and rebates for your state on the US Department of Energy website.

Tip 2: Engage your power company: Your power company can be a valuable resource when it comes to planning an EV installation. Many power companies provide rebates for Level 2 chargers and can keep you informed about state and federal incentives. They can inform you of the limits of the electrical grid at your location so that you don’t exceed capacity. Your power company may also be able to refer you to reputable installation EV charger installation companies and provide you with incentives to use your EV charging equipment during off-peak hours.

Tip 3: Decide Whether to Charge to Charge: While some businesses decide to provide charging for free, others decide that their EV charging program will be easier to manage by charging a nominal fee, which helps cover the cost of electricity, opens up availability of the equipment to more drivers, and may be viewed as more equitable by those who don’t drive EVs. Fees can also be adjusted during off-peak periods using charger software. Experts recommend that even those looking to provide charging as a benefit (workplaces, malls) set a rate just above the local residential electric rate unless they know they have more chargers than will be used. That way people looking for a freebie won’t camp out, and the equipment will only be used by those who need it – and, given they need it, will appreciate the reasonable rate.

Tip 4: Consider (and plan for) recurring software fees: EV charging software can help you manage charging times for employees and encourage charging during off-peak hours. It can also help you keep track of how many drivers are using your chargers and for how long, as well as promoting the availability of fee-based charging stations for public use, thereby driving some incremental revenue. Management software also helps keep the equipment available for those that really need it. That said, costly recurring monthly EV charging software fees can add up over time, possibly reducing or eliminating economic benefits to your organization. In the end, deciding whether to go with “smart” chargers is a decision you should consider carefully, depending on your circumstances.

Tip 5: Site Selection Matters – Choose the charge location carefully:Siting your charging station(s) is dependent on several factors. Putting the chargers close to electricity may save money in the short term, but it is a decision that will have consequences for years to come. Should EVs be given the most desirable spaces in your lot? How will that be perceived by other drivers, particularly if parking space is limited? Unless it is far less expensive to put charging spots in desirable spaces, experts say it’s best not to do so. Also consider factors such as lighting for night use, visibility, in-out ease, and 24/7 availability. Make sure your EV spots feature signage clearly identifying them as EV-only parking to discourage traditional vehicles from parking in them.

Tip 6: Plan for Success: Based on charge installations to date, entities have found that when it comes to EVs and charging, the old cliche holds true, if you build it, they will come. After current charging is at capacity, what happens next? When you set up the wiring for chargers, consider adding extra capacity so that you can scale without ripping up concrete and asphalt again. If you have more EV drivers than charger plugs, you’ll have to manage that in a way that keeps EV drivers from feeling they are the victim of a bait and switch. One way to provide more flexibility is to make sure that each charger is accessible from multiple parking spots, not just one.

Tip 7: Consider how EV Drivers will Find Them: Depending on who the chargers are intended for, you might want to post public signs (including on nearby highways), list the chargers on PlugShare, or highlight them in your company newsletter.

These are a few key factors to consider when planning an EV charger installation. What are your charger questions and experiences? We’d love to hear from you.

(Thanks to EV Technical Consultant Chad Schwitters for his contributions to this post.)  

In Community, Electric Vehicles, Massachusetts, MassEVolves

MassEVolves Spotlight: Braintree Electric Light Company (BELD)

BELDThe Braintree Electric Light Department’s innovative “Braintree Drives Electric” program has been generating awareness and promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to Braintree residents since 2016.

The program provides Braintree residents with discounts based on their charging habits and for the installation of charging equipment at their home. 

“We want to show residents the many benefits of owning or leasing an EV, including reduction to environmental impacts, affordability, and efficiency,” says Ken Stone, Energy Services and Accounting Manager. 

After partnering with Sagewell and Energy New England to help promote the program, BELD currently has about 80 residents enrolled with approximately 100 EVs in the town of Braintree. 

As part of the program, BELD has hosted virtual EVents, including a Q&A and a local EV specialist roundtable. Sagewell identifies new Braintree EV owners and contacts them to inform them about the Braintree Drives Electric program and uses smart charging program data to analyze residents’ charging habits. Energy New England manages the Braintree Drives Electric website, processes all customer rebates, and provides outreach to customers and local car dealerships. 

BELD currently owns and operates one Chevrolet Volt, two Volkswagen e-Golfs, and two hybrid bucket trucks, with a third hybrid bucket truck ordered and expected to arrive in 2021. BELD also owns and operates two dual head charging stations, which are free of charge for all electric vehicle users.t

To learn more about BELD, visit beld.net. To download the complete MassEVolves BELD PDF case study, click here.

MassEVolves is a statewide initiative conducted by Recharge America in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection. More information about the MassEVolves program is at massevolves.org.

In Electric Vehicles, EV Chargers, Massachusetts, MassEVolves, Recharge Massachusetts, Uncategorized

MassEVolves Spotlight: AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca, a founding participant in MassEVolves that embraces sustainability on a global level, installed a 250 electric vehicle (EV) charging port complex at its Waltham location in 2020, the largest such complex on the East Coast.

A collaboration between AstraZeneca, Eversource, the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP), and MassEVolves enabled the retrofitting of AstraZeneca’s existing garage in Waltham with electric vehicle charging stations. The project consisted of expanding the Waltham location’s EV charge capacity to 125 dual-headed stations, for a total of 250 Level 2 ports, creatively installed to allow each charging port to cover two parking spaces. This provides charging access to more than 450 spaces in the parking garage.

“Our company is committed to environmental sustainability and operating with net zero carbon emissions by 2025, and we are excited to be part of bringing large-scale EV capability to the region and to the employees who work at the AstraZeneca Boston BioHub,” says Ken Sutton, Facilities Director for AstraZeneca R&D Boston. “We hope this project inspires others to leverage the power of collaborations between private industry, State of Mass. EV organizations, and utilities like Eversource to affect change.”

Eversource, AstraZeneca’s energy provider, paid for and managed 100 percent of the installation of infrastructure supporting the charging stations under its EV Charging Station Program, which include transformers, switchgear, conduits and wiring. Funding for the chargers was a collaboration, with AstraZeneca purchasing the charging stations and receiving a partial rebate through financial incentives offered by MassEVIP. The ChargePoint charging stations were supplied by Voltrek.

Feedback from employees has been positive.

“The expansion of the charging station at work makes my life much easier,” says April Chen, who works at the BioHub. “I don’t have to come in the middle of the day to move my car to get charged. It makes my mind peaceful at work.”

Learn more about AstraZeneca’s sustainability initiatives at astrazeneca.com/sustainability.html. Download the complete MassEVolves AstraZeneca case study here.

MassEVolves is a statewide initiative conducted by Recharge America in partnership with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection. More information about the MassEVolves program is at massevolves.org.

In Electric Vehicles, EV Batteries

Study Predicts Battery Recycling, Tech Advances Will Reduce Resource Impact of EV Battery Production

EV Batteries

EV BatteriesElectric vehicles (EVs) save drivers thousands of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle. They also reduce local healthcare costs, because unlike traditional vehicles, EVs produce zero harmful particulate emissions. Recharge America estimates that, once in the community, each EV generates $1,000 in annual economic benefit. The case for EVs keeps getting stronger every day.

Now, the environmental lifecycle case regarding electric battery production is getting stronger, too.

As reported in The Guardian, a study by Transport & Environment (T&E), Europe’s leading clean transport campaign group, assessed the amount of raw materials needed to make EV batteries today and in the future, taking into account advances in manufacturing processes and recycling. When compared to the raw materials required to run a fossil fuel car, the assessment found that EVs consume a tiny fraction of the nonrenewable raw materials consumed by traditional vehicles.

From The Guardian: “Our previous analysis has shown that that electric vehicles emit 64% less CO2, including all the different stages like electricity generation and fuel production, but this still hasn’t shaken off the argument that electric vehicles use up a large amounts of raw materials,” said Lucien Mathieu, a transport analyst at T&E and an author of the report. “Our analysis shows that the raw material needs of EV batteries pale in comparison to the fuel burned by fossil fuel cars, which, unlike batteries cannot be recycled.”

The study estimated that only around 30 kilograms of metals will be “lost” or not recovered during the lifecycle of an EV. In contrast, a traditional car burns up an average of 300 to 400 times more petroleum by weight during its lifecycle in Europe (and considerably more than that in the US).

The report shows how advancements in EV battery recycling can have a measurable impact on the environment, predicting that by 2035, over 20% of the lithium and nickel, and 65% of the cobalt, needed to make a new battery in Europe could come from recycling.

In addition, technological advancements will reduce the overall amount of resources needed for battery production, with researchers predicting that the amount of lithium required to make an EV battery will be cut in half over the next decade. The amount of cobalt required will drop by more than three-quarters, and nickel by around a fifth.

While the United States currently has no federal mandates for EV battery recycling, a number of startups are now working to address the growing demand for recycled battery metals, reports Wired.