http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1098052_washington-state-loves-electric-cars-but-gets-very-few-heres-why
Washington State Loves Electric Cars, But Gets Very Few: Here's Why
By Stephen Edelstein Apr 29, 2015 ht2 Brian Henderson
[images
http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2014-chevrolet-spark-ev_100433719_m.jpg
2014 Chevrolet Spark EV
http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2014-fiat-500_100435224_m.jpg
2014 Fiat 500e EV
http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2015-volkswagen-e-golf-limited-edition_100503450_m.jpg
2015 Volkswagen e-Golf Limited Edition EV
http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2015-kia-soul-ev_100456106_m.jpg
2015 Kia Soul EV
]
When it comes to states friendly to electric cars, Washington is
pretty
close to the top.
It has one of the highest percentages of registered plug-in electric
cars in
the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration.
Electric cars get a sales-tax exemption in Washington, and access to
charging infrastructure that's fed mostly from wind and hydro power.
Yet Washington buyers are stuck with the same limited selection of
models as
in states with far less generous policies or eager buyers.
Certain models of battery-electric car--including the BMW i3, Ford
Focus
Electric, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla Model S--are
available
in Washington.
But many other low-volume models, from the Chevrolet Spark EV to the
Volkswagen e-Golf, aren't.
What gives?
As it turns out, while Washington adopted California's emissions
standard,
it failed to include that state's zero-emission vehicle mandate.
That means there's no incentive for manufacturers to sell more
electric cars
in Washington state, explains a recent Seattle Times blog post.
The mandate requires carmakers to sell a certain percentage of
zero-emission
vehicles in California.
That led to those manufacturers developing low-volume models
specifically
for the purpose of meeting that state's mandate.
These "compliance cars" include the Spark EV, Fiat 500e [EV], and
the
recently-discontinued Honda Fit EV and Toyota RAV4 EV, among others.
Washington doesn't get these cars, nor does it get certain
low-volume models
like the Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive and Volkswagen e-Golf.
And without regulatory strong-arming, many carmakers don't want to
invest in
expanded distribution of electric cars.
They often want to limit the money they spend to develop an electric
model
that is only intended to sell in small numbers, and restrict
distribution to
states where sales count toward the requirements of the ZEV mandate.
"I hope you don't buy it," Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio
Marchionne
infamously said of the 500e, "every time I sell one it costs me
$14,000."
The Fiat and the Chevy Spark EV are both available in neighboring
Oregon,
and some Washington residents have reportedly crossed the border to
buy
examples of those models.
However, local servicing can be difficult, as dealers that don't
sell the
electric variants lack the equipment and training to work on them.
Washington buyers will get at least one more electric-car option in
a few
months, though.
The state is one of five that will get the Kia Soul EV, beginning in
June.
The Soul EV is currently sold only in California, but Kia decided to
expand
to Washington, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, and Hawaii in response to
strong
consumer interest.
[© greencarreports.com]
...
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095708_washington-state-to-give-electric-cars-tax-breaks-carpool-lane-access
Washington State To Give Electric Cars Tax Breaks, Carpool-Lane
Access? (Dec
2014)
...
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1091059_compliance-car-update-which-electric-cars-are-loss-leaders
Compliance Car Update: Which Electric Cars Are Loss Leaders? (Mar
2014)
...
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097563_kia-soul-ev-to-go-on-sale-in-five-more-states-by-this-june
Kia Soul EV To Go On Sale In Five More States By This June
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