The State of Massachusetts has unveiled a new $2.5 million program aimed at providing funds to municipal fleets that are purchasing electric or plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles, as well as to support the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
The Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP), which will be administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, will offer grants up to $7,500 per EV and up to $15,000 per publicly accessible EV charging station. Officials say MassEVIP is ‘the first of what the state plans will be other state incentive programs to increase electric vehicle deployment and ease their use.’
‘This incentive program is intended to encourage and increase the deployment of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles that will provide significant air pollution emission reductions,’ said MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell. ‘Over the lifetime of an electric vehicle, the owner can reduce fuel consumption by more than 6,000 gallons of gasoline, reduce fuel costs by thousands of dollars, and cut our reliance on foreign oil.’
MassDEP estimates that the program will help add between 300 and 400 new all-electric or plug-in hybrids to the approximate 900 in use in Massachusetts today. To support these EVs' charging needs, the state Department of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition have partnered recently to help fund the installation of nearly 140 public charging points for EVs at various retail stores, commuter parking garages and other locations.
DOER, MassDEP and the coalition will be hosting a webinar on May 1 to brief municipal fleets about the program. And from May 6 to 31, MassDEP will hold workshops in its Boston office and in four regions around the state to outline program details and requirements. Applications for funs will be due by June 30.
More information will be coming soon to the Mass DEP website.
