An Assembly panel released a measure sponsored by Assembly Democrat Tim Eustace to promote the use of environmentally friendly and energy efficient vehicles in New Jersey, by encouraging the creation of electric vehicle charging stations or any other source that supplies electricity for the charging of electric vehicles in transportation projects.
“These vehicles are not only better for the environment, but better for your pocket book in the long run. If we want to encourage people to invest in these fuel efficient, environment friendly cars, then we have to develop the infrastructure to promote it and sustain it,” said Eustace (D-Bergen), who owns an electric car and knows first hand the difficulty of finding a charging station.
The bill encourages the state Department of Transportation to examine and promote the development of electric vehicle charging stations or any other source that supplies electricity to recharge plug-in electric vehicles, as part of any project financed by the Transportation Trust Fund Authority.
According to the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition, an organization promoting the transition from petroleum-fueled vehicles, there are some 84 plug-in electric charging stations in New Jersey, but the majority are in residential garages and not available to the public. According to a report by Environment New Jersey, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization, more than 13,000 drivers in New Jersey could purchase their first plug-in vehicle within the next three years. The same report, which was released this past summer, stated that with the right policies in place in the Garden State, plug-in vehicles could reduce oil dependence by more than 3 million gallons per year.
“Many people are opting for these vehicles for environmental reasons. But there is little point in having one if there are insufficient charging stations to keep them running,” said Eustace. “By investing in this infrastructure, we can help meet the state’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage environmental responsibility, which will help make New Jersey a greener place to live.”
The bill was released by the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee.
Please. I’ve done the math. You spend 20 thousand dollars more on an electric vehicle. At the current gas prices, it would take at least 15 years to make up that difference if you drive avg miles for an american. By that time, or possibly earlier, the very expensive battery in your car will go bad. There goes all your savings. We should really be looking into putting natural gas stations all over. There are many natural gas cars, buses and other fleet vehicles on the road already. They fill up at govt stations not open to the public. Honda makes a natural gas car thats not much more expensive than a regular one and the equivalent price per gallon would be under $2.00 .
And 5 years from now your battery goes bad and the manufacturer says they don’t make that battery anymore. Good luck.
To Number 1: not to worry Obama said he wants gas to be $7 per Gal like it is in Europe, so the payback will be sooner.
On the another hand who is driving these cars? GM has stopped production of the Volt because they have too many in stock.
This is unproven technology that is being shoved down our throats by the Democrats who think they know how we should live.