Unlikely partnership set to increase electric vehicle ownership, bolster charging access,
and prepare infrastructure for electric transportation.
On September 9, 2017, the $10 million, 3-year, Live Electric community partnership
rolled out its campaign to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, zero-emission strategies,
and smart mobility transportation innovation in the Intermountain West. In other words,
locals are going to see a lot more electric vehicles (EVs), home and workplace charging
stations, electric buses, bikes, and other forward-thinking transportation upgrades in the
area.
Funded primarily by a cost-share award between the Department of Energy and Rocky
Mountain Power, Live Electric is an unexpected collaboration between the utility and a
number of state and local organizations to help transition the area to the next phase of
electric transportation. Breathe Utah, Leaders for Clean Air, Utah Clean Cities,
University of Utah, Utah State University, and Forth Mobility, are just a few of the groups
signed on. Live Electric won out over New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, and
several other major cities jockeying for the cost-sharing award.
Liveelectric.org, the campaign’s website, says the primary objective is to get EVs
working for as many individuals and businesses as possible. Increased EV adoption is
an achievable solution for addressing regional air quality. The site also provides a
custom tool to research and buy the perfect EV.
Live Electric is arranging vehicle showcases at local dealerships and getting the word
out about the many state and federal tax credits currently in place. A $10,000 discount
for the 2017 Nissan LEAF and a federal tax credit of $7,500 are two of the enticements
the group is promoting for individuals. Deductions and offsets for businesses and large
fleet owners are also in place. Rocky Mountain Power commercial customers
(businesses) can get up to $5,000 for every EV they purchase. A comprehensive list of
incentives is available at liveelectric.org/incentives.
More EVs on the road creates a need for more charging stations, and more charging
stations makes EVs a more realistic option. Live Electric is installing fast-charging
stations at strategic intervals along the 1-15, I-80, and I-70 corridors as well as a section
of US-6 towards Canyonlands. EV owners will extend their driving range from
Yellowstone to Zion, and from Arches to Disneyland upon completion of the project.
Several Maverik stations along those routes will have charging stations alongside
traditional gas pumps.
At local workplaces, Live Electric is making it easier for business and residential owners
to install charging stations by fronting the cost of the charger itself. Hanko Kiessner,
founder of Leaders for Clean Air, explains why his group is donating chargers to
businesses: “Live Electric is a lifestyle. It’s a decision to completely switch, potentially,
from fossil fuels, to switch how you’re powering every aspect of your life, almost…and it
goes from electric bikes to how do I get from A and B in my own car. That’s why I think
it’s so cool.” The price of electricity for EV charging also needs to be reasonable so
Rocky Mountain Power is offering new time of use rates to customers, rates that make
charging EVs during off-peak hours significantly cheaper.
James Campbell, Legislative Policy Advisor for Rocky Mountain Power, explains that a
significant component of the utility’s contribution to Live Electric is preparing the area for
autonomous, shared, and other forward-thinking transportation options. “Transportation
is transforming and we need to get ready. So part of Live Electric is to ensure that we
have a stable, reliable grid that can handle this new transportation paradigm.” Campbell
is also responsible for weaving together the grid of Live Electric’s many partners.
Joining all the project pieces of Live Electric has required a high level of cooperation. An
unprecedented mix of consultants, experts, not-for- profits, and other organizations have
put their heads together to create a campaign that delivers an effective set of solutions
for Utah’s needs. Breathe Utah’s Policy Director, Ashley Miller says: “To follow our
mission we seek out solutions that work for Utah. So we’re really not trying to say ‘Well,
California is doing this, or Oregon is doing that.’ We know their solutions might not work
for our community, our climate, or our state. So we want to find solutions ultimately end
with cleaner air for us. We see Live Electric as a solution that meets that need.”
More about the campaign on social media @liveelectricnow