Maryland Governor to Sign Bill Extending EV Tax Incentives

Lanny


Governor Larry Hogan will sign the Clean Cars Act of 2017 that will extend the Maryland tax credit on purchases of electric vehicles and tax rebates for installing EV charging equipment.

The Clean Cars Act of 2017 is one of around 20 environmental bills that the Governor will be signing into law on May 4, 2017. A signing ceremony will be held at the Annapolis City Dock at 2:00 PM. The Governor will be joined by Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch.

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Rehoboth Beach Charging Stations Temporarily Out of Order

Lanny


UPDATE: One Unit is Working as of July 25, 2017

We took a quick day trip to Rehoboth Beach last weekend in the Model S. Upon arriving in town, we headed over to the two High-Amp Level 2 charging stations that were installed two years ago after a proposal was debated by the Board of Commissioners. [EV Charging Stations Proposed for Rehoboth Beach, Delaware] Unfortunately, both units were labeled, “Temporarily Out of Order.”

I reached out to the City of Rehoboth Beach and they said, “there seems to be an issue with the circuit boards and panels.” They apologized for the inconvenience and said they are working to get them fixed but don’t know how long it will take.

Fortunately, there are 30 Amp charging stations at Tanger Outlets [12 Charging Ports Coming to Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth]. We also got a boost using the DC Fast Chargers at several Royal Farms stores that were installed recently as part of a state of Delaware grant [Delaware DC Fast Chargers Coming to Eight Locations].

Please let us know at @PlugInSites on Twitter or on Facebook if you learn that these stations are operable again.

Bill to Extend Maryland EV Tax Credit Moves Forward

Lanny


UPDATE: Governor Signs Tax Credit Extension

A bill to extend the excise tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles and for an income tax rebate for EV charging stations passed the Maryland House of Delegates (123-11) and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

HB 406, the Clean Cars Act of 2017, proposed by Governor Larry Hogan, is one of several bills that were filed this session that sought to renew the state’s commitment to provide incentives for electric vehicles and charging equipment.

$60,000+ Vehicles Not Eligible
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Charging Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Lanny
green


Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s the day for wearing green, eating corned beef and cabbage and drinking green beer.  In that spirit, here are some of my favorite green-colored Plug In Sites.

Above is a photo of the five ChargePoint stations in the garage at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve. These are some of the first public charging stations installed in Maryland in early 2012. At first there was a chronic problem with gas vehicles ICEing the charging spots. The hotel management was very eager to solve the problem. They tried painting green stripes on the floor and green text on the wall that read, “ELECTRIC CAR USE ONLY.” Gas cars still blocked the spots.

Annapolis Green Paint

Next they painted the entire wall in front of the charging spots green with white text. That still didn’t work. Then they got official NO PARKING EXCEPT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING signs and the ICEing problem evaporated overnight. ICEing hasn’t been a major problem there since.
This charging site is at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis.  This is the most vivid shade of green markings that I’ve ever seen! I’m all for using green pavement markings to supplement effective signs, I only oppose a mandate to require green paint in order to be enforceable. It’s hard to miss these green spots.

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Edison Was Bullish on the EV Charging Business in 1917

Lanny


Seeing Ahead for the Electric Vehicle

An Interview with Thomas A. Edison

Originally published in Electrical World – January 6, 1917

“The growth of the electric vehicle has been hindered by lack of charging facilities. Selling electric current is a mercantile business just like any other business. Not enough central stations realize this and very few search out every way that current may be marketed. As a result, undeveloped markets exist for the sale of central station energy. It’s a funny business when so few central stations realize that there is a waiting market for the sale of current for charging electric cars. The public is in the curious position of wanting to buy something for which there is no place to go.

“In my opinion the central station should go into the garage business and provide in this way the best means of furnishing a place to which the customer can go to buy what he wants, electric current, in the form of mileage.
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Black Ankle Vineyards With Six EV Charging Stations

Lanny


Black Ankle Vineyards has installed six electric vehicle charging stations at their tasting room near Mt. Airy, Maryland. This is one of the biggest Tesla destination charging locations in the mid-Atlantic region and perhaps the “highest-powered” vineyard with EV charging in the area.

The tasting room is located in a building made with straw bale construction and has solar panels on the roof. There is plenty of outdoor seating for those who want to bring a picnic in the warmer months. The day we visited in February, there were several indoor fireplaces going that gave the place a warm, cozy feeling.

The six charging stations are located separate from the main parking area and consist of three 80 Amp Tesla connectors and three 32 Amp ClipperCreek J-1772 stations.

Black Ankle Vineyards is located at 14463 Black Ankle Rd, Mount Airy, MD and is open Fridays from 12:00 pm until 8:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

West Virginia EV Charging – Cacapon Resort State Park

Lanny

Photo credit: West Virginia Department of Commerce, used with permission.

Now you can charge your electric car when you stay overnight at several West Virginia State Park lodges.

Cacapon Resort, located about 100 miles from Washington, DC, is one of three West Virginia State Parks to install EV charging stations for overnight guests. Pipestem and Twin Falls also have EV charging.

Cacapon has two 30-Amp, Level 2, J-1772 charging ports made by Schneider Electric that are located in the main parking area of the lodge.
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