 If electric vehicles (EV) prices still give you pause, or if your steadfast mantra is “reuse,” then read this blog “Affordable Used Car Roundup,” which highlights where to find used EV deals in and around Wellesley. For example, a 2014 Chevy Volt priced at $10,699 before rebates and incentives, and a 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf for $13,998 are listed. It's part of Energy New England’s Wellesley Drives Electric program offering useful nuggets of information for all things EV. If you want to be an EV driver, or already are and want to do even more to fuel the trend, read these 3 insider tips.
1. EV interested residents as well as existing EV drivers looking for home charging incentives and installation info can connect with a Wellesley Drives Electric EV specialist via the website, which has a contact form, email address (ev@ene.org) and toll-free telephone number (1-833-443-8363). This 1-on-1 help and support is a free service available to all Wellesley residents. Specialists can even help you to set up a local in-person first test drive of an EV (as health and safety allows). 2. The site is also home to the Wellesley Drives Electric EV Action Committee, a group of EV Ambassadors that meet quarterly to provide a forum to ask questions and make suggestions for new program initiatives, according to Alex Banat Wellesley Drives Electric EV Specialist. 3. Wellesley Drives Electric is also co-sponsoring a virtual Earth Day event on April 22 at 6 p.m. Register here and join a drawing to win a $250 gift card. Several area town Drive Electric programs are partnering for the event, which will teach some EV basics and highlight how EVs can help the earth and benefit consumer pocketbooks. An interactive Q&A will follow the program.  Last week after the Massachusetts Legislature put its climate bill on the Governor’s desk for the second time, Governor Baker signed it into law. This sweeping and historic statute is the first piece of climate legislation passed in Massachusetts in over a decade, creating the foundation for bold and robust statewide climate policy for years to come.
Specifically, the Roadmap Bill strengthens Massachusetts’s emissions reduction targets to establish a 50% reduction by 2030, a 75% reduction by 2040 and a goal of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Having targets like these will hold the Commonwealth accountable to reduce emissions in our energy, transportation and building sectors. To make these goals, the act stipulates the development of a Net Zero Energy stretch building code, which it empowers communities to adopt by 2022. It also mandates energy efficiency standards for appliances by 2025, and authorizes another 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power. It also provides protections for Environmental Justice communities. What does this mean for Wellesley? Later this month, Wellesley’s Sustainable Energy Committee (SEC) will be updating the Town’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals and bringing them to the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) 2021. These goals, contained in Article 24, call for reductions in town-wide GHG emissions of 50% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2030, 75% below Wellesley’s 2007 baseline by 2040, and net zero town-wide GHG emissions by 2050. These science-based goals follow State policy, are in line with The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, support Wellesley’s Unified Plan, and echo similar climate actions taken by an increasing number of Wellesley’s peer communities across the Commonwealth. Residents are encouraged to contact their Town Meeting Members letting them know they support these emissions reductions goals for our community.  The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority has replaced the Route 8 Bus with an on-demand app based, curb to curb service that runs within the town of Wellesley, and other select destinations.
The vehicles travel Monday - Friday 6:45 am - 6:45 pm, there is no weekend service. This service is currently free, but fares will be re-evaluated shortly. Use the CATCH phone app to get a ride on the fully accessible vehicles. One party of up to 3 people is permitted to travel at a time, or 2 single person parties. Masks/face coverings required when on board an MWRTA vehicle. For more information on this new service visit www.MWRTA.com/Catch.  Just a reminder to shift your charging times to off peak hours -- after 10 PM through noon, Monday through Friday. Charge whenever you want on the weekends. Get 2,000 free miles of driving per year by enrolling into the BYOC program!
WHY? Shifting electric vehicles to charge during these hours will have an impact on our grid. Especially if you have a Tesla, or other larger battery cars that use more energy, it’s important to reduce the peak load impact on the grid. Peak hour loads cost more, and during some seasons come from plants that are inefficient, disproportionately located in low-income neighborhoods of color, emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants. If you are not enrolled in Wellesley Municipal Light Plant’s BYOC (BRING YOUR OWN CHARGER), please do so to keep electric rates low by reducing peak energy costs. Plus, you will earn $8 per month in the form of a bill credit from the Municipal Light Plant.That is about 2,000 free miles per year. |
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