EVs Gain Momentum for National Drive Electric Week!

by Brandon Rueda September 26, 2024

City of Davis, Community, Events, Transportation

These are exciting times as EVs gain momentum for National Drive Electric Week! New state reports and regional data show prices coming down to parity with other new vehicles and EV adoption is ticking up and exceeding local goals. State and local EV charging has also becoming more available as this year. At the end of this month Sept 30 thru October National Drive Electric Week(NDEW), the annual event dedicated to promoting EVs and sustainable transportation, provides a platform for enthusiasts and experts to share insights and showcase advancements. NDEW 2024 brings along with it new electric vehicle models all set to reinvigorate the market with new features and forms. Complementing this in October is the upcoming Interfaith EV Fair in Davis that will offer an opportunity to explore EVs, further fueling the shift towards greener transportation solutions locally.

EV Momentum in Davis – Meeting Zero Emission Vehicle Goals

Davis is one of many communities around our state leading the way in electric vehicle(EV) adoption. We’re on track to meet the City of Davis goal of 4,500 EVs adopted by 2025; set in 2017 beyond Davis’ share of the original state goal. The current number of EVs in Davis is 3,845. This represents total cars registered in Davis in 2023, plus cars purchased/leased in 2024. In the state of CA, EVs are about 6% of the total registered vehicles, while in Davis, EVs represent nearly 10% of our total registered vehicle fleet.

California’s EV Charging Network Grows by 24,000 Chargers in 2024

In exciting EV news from the Office of the Governor California has increased its number of EV chargers by an impressive 24,000 in 2024, upping the total to 152,356 chargers statewide. This update is a significant highlight in Veloz’s Q2 EV Market Report, now revised to include these latest numbers. The growth in EV infrastructure is a clear indicator of the state’s ongoing commitment to public health, sustainability and clean energy. At this rate public fast charging sites “could outnumber gas stations within eight years,”. That doesn’t take into account home charging and workplace charging locations. Dive into the updated report to see how EV charging infrastructure and increased EV market share will continue to shape the EV landscape in California and beyond! Veloz is a unique public-private nonprofit driving toward 100% zero-emission vehicles through strategic communications, unprecedented collaborations and purposeful convening.

City of Davis Installs a Free Solar Mobile EV Charger
- The City of Davis announced in July the installation of a microgrid solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station from Paired Power. The new station with two EV charge ports is located in the Boy Scout Parking Lot (at 616 First Street). The installation is one of the components in the City’s EV Charging Infrastructure Phase 1 project. Paired Power is a manufacturer of microgrid solar-powered EV chargers with an integrated AI-driven energy management system; read more here.
- Get the Plugshare app to locate charging stations around Davis or wherever you may find yourself!

Local & Regional EV Events in September & October!

The Davis Electric Vehicle Association(DEVA), Cool Davis, and the Sacramento EV Association(SacEV) encourage you to participate in National Drive Electric Week events throughout the region September 27th to October 6th as well as EV events in September and October! Good places to start are the NDEW site and SacEV calendar. This is the opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of electric vehicles by chatting with their owners at events held especially for our EV-curious community. Get your questions answered on topics such as finding the right EV for you, buying used, charging around town, and Federal/State incentives. National Drive Electric Week is presented nationally by Plug In America, The Electric Vehicle Association, The Sierra Club, EVHybridNoire, and Drive Electric USA.

Cool Davis and DEVA host Transportation Resources & EV showcase at the Davis Farmers Market every third Saturday of the month. Come check out an EV on display on Saturday, September 21st!

Davis Interfaith EV Fair, Sunday October 13th – Join the Davis Electric Vehicle Association(DEVA), Cool Davis, the United Methodist Church, and the Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice, for the Interfaith Electric Vehicle Fair, October 13th, 2024! This exciting fair is open to all!

**Event Details:**

– Date: Sunday, October 13th

– Time: 11:00am-2:00pm

– Location: United Methodist Church of Davis, North parking lot – 1620 Anderson Rd, Davis, CA 95616

Explore a wide range of electric vehicles, learn about advancements in green technology, and discover how electric mobility is shaping the future of transportation. More information about this event can be found on the formal announcement page.

Why go electric now?

All-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles purchased new in 2023 or after may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. The availability of the credit depends on several factors, including the vehicle’s MSRP, its final assembly location, battery component and/or critical minerals sourcing, and your modified adjusted gross income (AGI).

Qualified vehicles purchased before 2023 may be eligible for a similar tax credit of up to $7,500.

Pre-owned vehicles purchased in 2023 or after are eligible for a tax credit of up to $4,000.

Visit the Plugin America site to find out more about tax credits based on your income, eligible vehicles, and tax credits for used vehicles.
In accordance with new IRS regulations, beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits must be initiated and approved at the time of sale. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of the IRS’s confirmation that a “time of sale” report was submitted successfully by the dealer. Go to IRS publication 5900 to learn more!

New and Exciting EV Models on the Market as EVs gain momentum!

Keep an eye out for new EVs hitting the road!

Volkswagen ID.Buzz – This blast from the past is the latest release from Volkswagen featuring a maximum of seven seats, several trims(starting at $61,545) & colorways, and a 234 mile range. Volkswagen reports that ID.Buzz(pictured) can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes.

Chevy Silverado EV – After the Ford F150 Lightning hit the market, Chevy retorts with its own EV pickup. The Chevy Silverado EV features a 440 mile rage, up to 10,000 lbs of max towing, and debuts a “multi-flex midgate” which extends the truck bed to fit items up to 10ft 10in. The “First-Edition RST 4WD” trim starts at $96,495 but it would be reasonable to think this MSRP to drop for later editions.

Hyundai Ioniq 5N – This model is an iteration of the Ioniq 5 but caters to performance oriented drivers. The 5N has special feature that simulates a traditional gas engine acceleration/torque and sound. It has a 221 mile range, comes in AWD, includes a boost mode, and starts at $66,100.

Rivian R2 and R3 – After the success of the R1S(pictured), Rivian is back on the marketing trail with two new models. The Rivian R2 is a versatile new midsize SUV that seats five people and comes in at a more affordable MSRP than Rivian’s full size flagship SUV. The Rivian R2 is expected to start around $45,000, have a range of over 300 miles, and releases 2026. The Rivian R3 is the second model with no firm release date. It’s a midsize crossover with more compact dimensions that is supposed to come at an even lower price than the R2. There is also a performance version of the R3 that is known as the R3X.

Veloz’s CEO Spotlight Features EVGo’s Badar Khan Discussing the Future of EV Charging

EV charging infrastructure is a hot topic right now. Consumers want to be able to reliably charge on-the-go and those in the EV industry recognize it as a key element in accelerating EV adoption. Join Veloz on October 3 for the CEO Spotlight with EVgo’s Badar Khan where they will converse about: