http://www.athensnews.com/news/local/alternative-fuels-and-vehicles-a-perfect-fit-for-appalachian-hills/article_023cdd96-4c41-11e6-ae3f-a3790a0fd99a.html Alternative fuels and vehicles a perfect fit for Appalachian hills 20160717 Mathew Roberts, Info and Outreach Director, UpGrade Athens County
[image http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/athensnews.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/54/254c3160-4c41-11e6-bd7f-5f09dce4f896/578bbbf08e265.image.jpg (solar panels power electric vehicle / Provided photo) ] Linda Cochran poses with her new Nissan LEAF and 8-plus kilowatt solar array nestled at her home on Mansfield Road in Athens County. Linda Cochran is a proud electric car owner. With the recent purchase of a 2012 Nissan Leaf, she and her husband are proving their support in a worldwide movement to switch from fossil fuel-based transportation to an innovative collection of alternative fuels and vehicles. To purchase their EV (electric vehicle), they used a zero percent interest loan option offered by the Ohio University Credit Union, a program available in partnership with UpGrade Athens County to expand the use of alternative, more efficient personal cars. The Athens County EV Loan Program is available to OUCU members who are residents of Athens County or working with an employer whose principal place of business is Athens County. The loan used to be available for only 100 percent electric vehicles, but expanded in the last month to include traditional and plug-in hybrid models from an approved list of more than 30 cars. With the loan, borrowers also agree to report vehicle mileage to UpGrade Athens County as set forth in the participation agreement. This will help make a case for more electric transportation infrastructure to state policymakers. The couple’s commitment to a more sustainable life is fully equipped with an 8.3-kilowatt rooftop solar system and a level II electric car charger to supplement the extra juice required by the new electric car. “For us, the decision was very economical,” Cochran said. “With the solar, we had too much electricity and more than 90 percent of our driving is less than 20 or 30 miles.” The answer was clear: Use the extra electricity to drive the car! This story resonates for many folks who are looking to make the greatest impact to protect the environment and live more sustainably without compromising too much. Eva Bloom, development specialist at OUCU, says, “For most people, buying a vehicle is one of the largest purchases they will make. But hybrids offer an experience that is more similar to a traditional vehicle, so that, plus the zero percent interest offer, makes it a little easier to make the switch.” At a time where transportation has now surpassed, power plants as the biggest fossil-fuel pollution emitters in this country, the timing to reflect on how we move couldn’t be more perfect. Before long, neighbors and friends were curious about what Cochran’s Nissan Leaf is exactly and why it matters that it runs on a battery rather than gasoline. Many who decide to clean up their transportation footprint, particularly those switching to all-electric or hybrid cars, notice that the biggest savings come from what is not taken out of the wallet through fuel savings and low maintenance costs. Electric cars also have smart technology by showing drivers that short commutes equal more miles per charge and that braking slower rather than abruptly offers more for the driving experience through regenerative braking (slow, sustained braking recharges the car’s main battery). “I had to stop and ask myself ‘What is your hurry?’” Cochran noted as she explained why electric and hybrid cars are a perfect fit for the dips and hills of rural communities. They offer more regenerative braking and the chance to really slow down to enjoy the scenery of home. Even with a perfect model, 100 percent electric cars powered by 100 percent renewable energy still leave quite a footprint, though not nearly as large as gas-powered cars. To be at their best, electric cars require good batteries, better software, and a unique partnership between auto manufacturers and clean power providers. Finding the golden path will take time, which is why an integrated approach to cleaner travel per community is so important. All-electrics are good, but joining forces with hybrid cars for those extra-long drives, public-transit systems and leg-powered bicycles, a better picture emerges. Hybrid cars can reach efficiencies of more than 100 miles per gallon, actually yielding greater environmental benefits than all-electrics when taken out on the highways. In the same breath, especially in this community, public-transit systems can answer the problem of transportation equality by providing another option for mobility to those that can’t afford a new, or even used, car. Additionally, the city of Athens was designated a “Bicycle Friendly Community” by the League of American Bicyclists just a year ago, with new lanes being added regularly and naturally promoting a culture of good community health. In other words, the emergence of EVs is not merely toy vehicles on the margins, but part of a larger movement to explore the cost-effective opportunities for communities to adopt alternative fuels and vehicles for their people. Hybrids and electric cars are here for the long haul, offering another exciting way to approach sustainability in motion. Editor’s note: Athens County is a semi-finalist in the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a two-year competition that challenges communities to reduce energy use through innovative, community-based solutions. The winning community receives a $5 million prize and national recognition as an energy trailblazer. Stay tuned to The Athens NEWS for biweekly coverage of UpGrade Athens County’s progress in competing for the Georgetown Prize. 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