As I’ve mentioned, we’re approaching the end of the State of Texas’ “Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive Program,” which offered rebates of $2,500 for purchasers of light-duty vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or electric drives (plug-in).
and it’s a crying shame.
Did they run out of money? NO! There’s currently $4,132,116 left in the coffers! That’s enough to provide rebates to 1,652 vehicle purchasers!
Why would an oil-centric state like Texas create a rebate program? As stated on the website of the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ website, “In 2012, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated ten counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise Counties) in North Central Texas as nonattainment for the pollutant ozone in accordance with the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).” This is because “the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requires states with areas failing to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) prescribed for criteria pollutants to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP).”
So what happened? In my opinion, the failure of the program to disburse its funds is due to failure by many, many people/organizations:
- First off (and most responsible) are the sales staffs of most dealers selling vehicles that would qualify for the rebate. I spoke with a potential Volt buyer yesterday who told me he had specifically asked a salesperson, at another dealership, if Texas had any sort of tax incentive/rebate on the Volt. The answer he received was “Not that I know of.” It is incumbent for salespeople to know about (and spread the word about) programs like this because it makes it easier for the salesperson to achieve their goal (a car sale) if they tell the world about the program. Finally, each salesperson should (at the very least) print the required forms for their customers to make filing for the rebate as painless as possible.
- The dealerships’ management teams for not putting up posters, printed signage on the vehicles themselves, mentions on all printed, radio and television ads, and finally education for their sales staff (10 minutes max).
- The state government for not publicizing the program via billboards and public service announcements.
- Local governments for not hosting effective, crowd-drawing events, during “National Plug-In Day” and its replacement, “National Drive Electric Week.” I understand there are budgetary constraints at this level, but what is the cost of non-attainment of air quality standards in dollars and in health costs? There are many, many people/organizations that would volunteer time and effort to help make an event like that work:
- Food trucks wanting to sell their wares at an event like this? Check
- Dealers to provide cars and staff for test drives/information? Check.
- Current EV owners to attend and provide testimonials? Big time CHECK!
- Local bands who’d perform for free? Check.
- Locations available at little to no charge? Check.
- Vendors of accessories (chargers, apps, solar panels, wind turbines) willing to help out? Check.
- Bloggers in the EV space willing to speak publicly at event? Check. (well…I can only speak for myself here…)
So what can be done? Not much, I’m afraid.
- Everything I’m hearing from Austin is that the state government seems to have no interest in continuing the program. It may help for you to reach out to your elected officials and let them know that for Texas to have poor air quality is a travesty that MUST be addressed soon and that programs (like this rebate), if properly promoted, are critical to attainment of air quality goals.
- Make an effort to attend “National Drive Electric Week” events this year, especially if you already own a plug-in vehicle. Those considering dipping their toes in the EV pool need to know (from someone other than a salesperson who’s eyeing a commission) that the water’s fine.
- Tell anyone you know that’s considering a new vehicle, about the rebate of $2,500 from the state of Texas and the $7,500 Income Tax Credit from the feds.
Just make that last step soon. The rebate ends (and vehicles must be purchased by) 5:00PM on June 26, 2015.
The NTCOG could have done more too. bumper stickers, flyers, newspaper announcements (which might have been free) maybe a billboard. They don’t seem very aggressive.
They could have motivated parents by advertising how dangerous air pollution is to children’s health including their IQ.
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/05/22/air-pollution-reduces-cognition-not-just-via-the-lungs/
Even most Republicans care about their kids.
I thought a lot about billboards too. The state could have put just a few billboard ads in high-pollution cities. If in a prominent spot (where traffic backs up regularly), it could have gotten the word out.
Do NCTCOG employees sit at their desks looking at porn all day? If they were really interested in seeing more plug-ins on the streets, i think they could do more. If i worked there, I know I could.
In all fairness, the NCTCOG staff works diligently on the issues they can affect but are hamstrung by a shortage of funding. I would put more of the blame on the state government for not promoting the program.
“the NCTCOG staff works diligently on the issues they can affect but are hamstrung by a shortage of funding.”
What issues with regard to air and water quality can they not affect?
Shortage of funding? What does it cost to call people on the phone? Zero. What does it cost to drive out to talk to someone? Very little.
One of the things I would do if I worked there is to talk to every CEO with an auto fleet in N.Texas, and I know I could convince at least some of them to buy EVs or, more likely, PHEVs.
Of course, there’s some salesmanship involved, but one thing I learned in the oil business: good ideas almost sell themselves.
“The dealerships’ management teams for not putting up posters . . . etc.”
Because they make more money on the gas burners? Is this another example where self-interest is contrary to the public interest?
Perhaps the best way to entice people into buying a plug-in is for the state to build FREE FAST RECHARGING stations, particularly all over the urban areas which have an air pollution problem, like DFW. That’s what Elon Musk thinks apparently.
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/teslas-solar-powered-free-use-superchargers-growing-weeds-worldwide.html
Take the left over rebate money and start building fast recharging stations with it.