Virginia Plug-in Readiness
Virginia Get Ready Roundtable Efforts
The Virginia Get Ready Roundtable gathered for an introductory meeting on May 18, 2010 and met throughout the summer to establish a cooperative plan for deployment of electric vehicles in Virginia. This plan and related educational information for the state are now published on the Virginia Clean Cities and partner sites as well as a new educational resource: http://www.virginiaev.org/
Project Get Ready (PGR) is an initiative led by Rocky Mountain Institute to focus on identifying barriers and proposing solutions related to adoption and deployment of electric vehicles. This effort in Virginia spans many groups, with varying roles and experiences. A collaborative and organized effort to address these issues is led by the Governor’s Office, Virginia Clean Cities, and key stakeholders to benefit the entire state and region. The national PGR effort provides a forum to interact with other partner cities and technical advisers to address a range of issues.
Virginia Get Ready Goals:
Establish Virginia as a leader in the adoption of the electric vehicles in order to reduce vehicle emissions, increase energy independence, and generate positive economic development for the Commonwealth. By October 2010, present an initial Virginia “electrification plan” detailing:
· How to overcome potential barriers associated with the adoption of plug-in vehicles and charging infrastructure specifically related to codes, standards and processes;
· A communication strategy to educate appropriate partners, stakeholders and the general public;
· The potential incentives (monetary, nonmonetary, upfront and long-term) to encourage businesses and individuals to purchase plug-in vehicles;
· The issues and tasks necessary to the installation of charging infrastructure, from the technical to the managerial.
Virginia Utilities have installed and converted Prius vehicles, bucket trucks, and have agreed to purchase test Chevy Volt units when available. The Commonwealth has installed free access vehicle charging units at one rest area. Virginia entities are assessing charging capacity, investment needs, and roles in jumpstarting vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployment.
Virginia companies make batteries, motors, charging stations, and design and deploy electric vehicles and convert hybrid vehicles to plug-in hybrid vehicles and battery electric vehicles. Northern Virginia is connected within the 70 mile radius of the DC ChargePoint America deployment and early adoption vehicle enthusiasts. Charlottesville, Virginia is involved in a robust smart grid and vehicle conversion deployment program and has a high number of early Prius adoptions. Richmond, Virginia has a large fleet presence and a local electric vehicle initiative. Hampton Roads includes large federal fleets in close proximity that are likely to benefit from electric improvements. Virginia fleets currently have 35 electric vehicles and there are numerous charging stations available, including modern units and EV1 deployment units from the late 1990’s.
State and local government entities, fleets, universities, utilities, civic organizations, vehicle manufacturers, and businesses are represented and stakeholder numbers are growing in the Virginia electrification effort.
Government representation includes the Virginia Secretary of Transportation, the state Department of Mines Minerals and Energy, the Department of General Services, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board, the U.S. Department of Energy and Clean Cities program, Virginia Clean Cities, Fairfax, Virginia, Arlington, Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, Henrico, Virginia, Chesterfield, Virginia, James Madison University, and the University of Virginia.
Utility representation includes Dominion Power and Old Dominion Electric Cooperative. Civic involvement includes Electric Vehicle Association of Washington DC, Richmond STIR, the Virginia Automobile Association, and Virginia Clean Cities. Business representation includes Nissan, Ford, Smith Electric Vehicles, the Advanced Vehicle Research Center, Richmond Segway, Evatran, Plugless Power, Aker Wade, Kollmorgen, Coulomb, and Encell.
Based on likely adoption predictions, infrastructure and vehicle efforts will be initially targeted for the specific regions of Northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads.
This plan was refined over the summer of 2010 and presented to public and private stakeholders in October 2010 at the Commonwealth of Virginia Energy Symposium. The Virginia effort was based on the four working groups of the neighboring efforts in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Virginia Get Ready Roundtable subcommittee groups included: 1) Standards and Readiness, 2) Education and Outreach, 3) Incentives, and 4) Sites and Installation.
The Regional Champion for the Virginia effort was Virginia Clean Cities.
Virginia Get Ready May 18 Presentation
Virginia Get Ready July 14 Presentation Info and Materials
VA Get Ready – Nissan Presentation – GM Presentation – Ford Presentation
DOE July 22 Plug-in Vehicle and Infrastructure Workshop and Materials
Virginia Get Ready Coordinator:
Alleyn Harned
Program Coordinator, Virginia Clean Cities
540-568-8896 desk
540-568-5181 fax
804-539-9425 cell
aharned@vacleancities.org