NEMA endorses Biggert-Markey EV infrastructure bill
04 May 2011
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), on behalf of its Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment/Systems (EVSES) product section, has endorsed HR 1685, the Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act of 2011. (Earlier post.) Introduced by Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), HR 1685 implements various incentives and programs to foster adoption of electric vehicles (EV) and EV infrastructure.
HR 1685 extends through 2014 the tax credit for the residential and commercial purchase and installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The credit is currently set to expire at the end of this year. The bill expands the tax credit from 30% with a cap of $30,000 for businesses and $1,000 for individuals to Recovery Act levels of a 50% credit with a cap of $50,000 for businesses and $2,000 for individuals.
The deployment of charging infrastructure is crucial to the mass adoption of electric vehicles. This legislation makes it more affordable for consumers, businesses, and cities to adopt this exciting new technology and to realize all the benefits it enables.
—Michael Mahan, GE Industrial Solutions Product General Manager for EV Infrastructure and Chairman of NEMA’s EVSES section
In addition to the tax provision, this bill establishes:
- a deployment communities grant program at the Department of Energy to identify and demonstrate best practices for incorporating EVs and EV infrastructure into the grid and select communities;
- bonding authority for EV infrastructure investments;
- a loan program for manufacturers to reequip their facilities to produce EVSE or EV components;
- loan guarantees for advanced battery purchases for use in stationary applications;
- loan guarantees for advanced automotive battery purchases; and
- a program to encourage adoption of EVs by federal fleets.
NEMA is the association of electrical and medical imaging equipment manufacturers. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near Washington, DC, its approximately 450 member companies manufacture products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end use of electricity. Worldwide sales of NEMA-scope products exceed $120 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, NEMA also has offices in Beijing and Mexico City.
If you start to throw public money into chargers ahead of the curve, we may not get the desired results. EVs will probably be charged at night in the owners garage. Having lots of publicly funded chargers may look good, but how many will be available when it takes hours to charge one car?
Posted by: SJC | 04 May 2011 at 11:00 AM
A consideration yes, but I suspect that most of these tax credits will go to businesses and EV owners installing chargers. So, this particular endorsement means little except a manufacturing association (of medical imaging gear) is for it.
And as we have all commented, seeing a few public parking lot chargers around will keep the EV image in the cerebrum. Hopefully.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 04 May 2011 at 05:25 PM
That could be the case, if it encourages employers to install chargers for commuters, then I am all for it. Commuters use lots of fuel and carpools seem to not be in favor, so let's charge the cars at that end to get them home.
Posted by: SJC | 04 May 2011 at 08:56 PM
When the government is broke, doofus Markey wants to keep spending like an alcholic sailor...
This is a flat out subsidy program, and the Subsidee apparently supports it. One would never have guessed ...
Posted by: Stan Peterson | 06 May 2011 at 12:35 PM