Tag: EV Project
Chevy Volt joins Tennessee’s EV Rebate Progam
Chevrolet Volt joins TN EV Rebate Program
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced today that Chevrolet Volt purchasers are now eligible for the state’s $2,500 electric vehicle (EV) rebate. The rebate requires that consumers qualify for and participate in The EV Project, a national study on EV use and charging infrastructure deployment.
The EV Project will provide participants with a free Blink® 240V networked charge station and a credit of up to $1,200 towards its installation. To be eligible, Tennessee residents must sign an EV Project participant agreement, purchase the Volt, take delivery of the car, and have SPX Corporation install their Blink charge station by June 30, 2012. Volt owners who have already purchased and taken delivery of their vehicles are still eligible for the rebate if they are accepted into The EV Project. Consumers should contact the original selling dealer to inquire about retroactive rebates.
“The state’s $2,500 electric vehicle rebate provides an extra incentive to those who want to purchase a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle. “We’ve had a great deal of interest from Tennessee consumers regarding the Volt, and I am pleased it is now eligible for rebates,” Molly Cripps, director of the ECD Energy Division, said.
“We applaud the state of Tennessee for adding the Volt to the EV rebate program. “Tennessee is a vital market for The EV Project. The addition of the Volt into the rebate program ensures we will further our efforts to gather invaluable data from our already rich infrastructure in the Tennessee market,” stated Don Karner, president of ECOtality North America.
The primary goal of The EV Project is to collect, analyze and report on the use of electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them. This information includes data regarding the energy used, along with time and duration of charger use. No personal information is shared or included in the analyzed data. Participants must maintain an in-home Internet connection to transmit the data until The EV Project concludes on April 30, 2013.
In September of 2010, the state of Tennessee announced that $2.5 million had been budgeted for the electric vehicle rebate program, enabling the first 1,000 Tennessee residents who purchase either a Chevrolet Volt or Nissan LEAF SL, the opportunity to participate in The EV Project and receive a $2,500 rebate. The state rebate is in addition to a federal tax rebate of up to $7,500.
ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project and will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of EVs in these key markets. The project is a public-private partnership, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant and made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
For more information on the state’s EV rebate program, please visit tn.gov/ecd/CD_energy_electric_vehicle_rebates.html. More information on The EV Project is available at TheEVProject.com.
Nissan LEAF SL buyers eligible for rebates
Nashville, TN: ECOtality, Inc. announced Aug. 11, that $2,500 rebates are still available for the first 1,000 EV Project participants in Tennessee who purchase a Nissan LEAF SL model with DC Fast Charge capabilities. The state of Tennessee announced in September 2010 that $2.5 million had been budgeted for the rebates that are realized at the point of sale and credited against the purchase price. The state rebate will complement a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for the electric vehicle purchase.
Tennessee is an original pilot market for The EV Project, the largest deployment of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Sponsored by the US Department of Energy, The EV Project is deploying commercial charging stations in Tennessee in the major metropolitan areas of Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga and corresponding transportation corridors. Data gathered from the EV Project will be used to understand the charging behavior of EV drivers and how best to deploy charging infrastructure across the country.
“The state’s $2.5 million investment highlights Tennessee’s commitment to becoming a premier market for electric vehicles, and will further incentivize drivers to purchase a Nissan LEAF and enroll in The EV Project.”This rebate also compliments the consumer offerings of The EV Project to make purchasing an EV a sound economic decision,” stated Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality, Inc.
ECOtality Blink DC Fast Charger
In addition to purchasing a Nissan LEAF SL model with DC Fast Charge capabilities, potential LEAF owners must live in Tennessee and apply for the EV Project via the online Nissan LEAF Customer Journey to qualify for the rebate. Applicants must own their own home, intend on residing there for a minimum of two years and provide a valid state of Tennessee zip code. Finally, applicants must be willing to sign up and share their LEAF charging data as a part of the EV Project. All EV Project participants will receive a Blink Wall Mount charger free of cost, as well as a free or substantially subsidized installation.
“We’re working hard to create a business-friendly environment in which companies like Nissan can grow and create jobs. “Offering the rebates for EV participants is one way we can help support an existing Tennessee business and encourage future economic growth,” said Molly Cripps, Energy Division director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
The Nissan LEAF is the world’s first all-electric, zero-emission vehicle designed for the mass market. The LEAF launched in Tennessee and other initial markets in December 2010, and is continuing its rollout to nationwide availability. In late 2012, the Nissan LEAF and the lithium-ion batteries that power it are slated to be built at Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn. Nissan is constructing an all-new, state-of-the-art battery plant with an eventual annual capacity of 200,000 battery packs. The LEAF will be built at the Smyrna Assembly Plant, alongside other Nissan and Infiniti models. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 and 2011.
“Nissan is proud that Tennessee will serve as the U.S. production base for the Nissan LEAF, the first all-electric, zero-emission car for the mass market. “We appreciate the EV Project and the State’s efforts in offering Tennesseans an additional benefit towards the purchase or lease of a Nissan LEAF, which is sure to further the mass adoption of this breakthrough technology,” said Tracy Woodard, director, government affairs, Nissan North America.
Steps to Enroll in The EV Project
Nissan LEAF customers can enroll in the project before they’ve ordered their LEAF by following these steps:
- Log onto the Nissan LEAF website here
- Complete the Reservation process
- Choose option for free home charger
- Complete the qualification questionnaire
- A certified contractor will contact you to complete a home site assessment
- Accept the terms and conditions for enrollment in The EV Project
- Order the vehicle including the DC Fast Charge port. Your dealership will complete the paperwork for rebate and take $2,500 off the price of the vehicle
- Receive your free Blink Residential home charger prior to vehicle delivery
- Enjoy using the Blink network of public charging stations to supplement home charging
Members who are already enrolled in the EV Project and have taken ownership of their Nissan LEAF are still eligible to apply for the rebate retroactively. These EV Project members should contact their Nissan dealer.
The EV Project expands to Memphis
ECOtality, Inc. announced Tuesday, the addition of Memphis to The EV Project, the largest rollout of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in the United States. The company also revealed that residents throughout the entire state of Tennessee are now eligible to receive $2,500 in state funded vehicle incentives for participating in The EV Project, making the state the project’s largest geographical region.
“The state of Tennessee is pleased by the strong level of interest from Memphis and other West Tennessee communities regarding The EV Project. “Today’s announcement demonstrates there is truly widespread statewide interest in EV technology and that bodes well for expanded adoption in the future,” said ECD Director of Energy Policy Ryan Gooch.
“Expansion of the EV Project to Memphis is good news for the city, the state of Tennessee, and for TVA. “Electricity as a transportation fuel can reduce emissions and provide other benefits that are important to TVA’s renewed vision to be among the nation’s leading providers of cleaner and low-cost energy by 2020,” said Kim Greene, TVA group president of Strategy and External Relations.
Tennessee is an original pilot launch market for The EV Project, and in recent months has made major strides in EV adoption. Last year the state of Tennessee contributed additional funding to The EV Project to support its expansion in the state and maximize the amount of commercial charging stations deployed in the four project cities and along major connecting transportation routes.
“Nissan is thrilled The EV Project will now include Memphis. “The Nissan LEAF is the world’s first affordable, all-electric vehicle available to the mass market, and will meet the daily driving needs of many residents of Memphis and Shelby County,” said Tracy Woodard, director, government affairs, Nissan North America Inc.
Tennessee is an initial launch market for the Nissan LEAF, and will be the manufacturing home of the vehicle in 2012. With the statewide expansion of EV Project, all Tennessee LEAF customers who qualify to participate in the EV Project will receive a free Blink Level 2 wall mount charging station and either a free or substantially subsidized residential installation. In addition, the first 1,000 qualifying purchases of the Nissan LEAF in Tennessee will be eligible to receive an additional $2,500 in vehicle incentives.
“The state of Tennessee has emerged as a critical proving ground for electric vehicles, and we are excited to electrify the streets and neighborhoods of Memphis. “With the largest geographic footprint of any region in The EV Project, we will provide the rich charging infrastructure necessary to spark the consumer adoption of EVs statewide—and deploy the hundreds of miles of electric freeway needed to take EVs beyond their 100-mile radius,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality.
Parties interested in participating in The EV Project can email Paula Smith, at the ECOtality Tennessee Regional Office, at psmith@ecotality.com, or by calling (615) 823-7299, for more information. For information about the state incentives contact the Nissan Contact Center at 1-877 NO GAS EV (664-2738).
As the project manager for The EV Project, ECOtality will oversee the installation of commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant of $114.8 million, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The grants are matched by private investment, bringing the total value of the project to approximately $230 million.
