A new pilot program in Dorchester, Massachusetts, is aiming to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable for residents of affordable housing units. The program, a collaboration between Boston-based BlueHub Capital and the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp., works to address barriers to EV adoption, including high upfront costs.
To make EVs more affordable, the program utilizes technology that takes advantage of the varying price of electricity at different times. By using this technology, residents can save money on monthly rental costs for EVs. For example, one resident of the Girls Latin apartment complex in Dorchester was able to rent a Nissan Leaf for just $100 per month through the program, compared to the usual cost of $200 per month.
In addition to reduced rental costs, the program also offers savings on fuel expenses. EV drivers can save hundreds of dollars per month by not having to buy gasoline. One resident who participated in the pilot program said, “My only concern is, there should be more places to charge.”
The pilot program involves several organizations. BlueHub Energy, Enterprise, and Fermata Energy to accelerate both the adoption of electric vehicles and the transition to renewable energy. The program also uses a unique AI-powered technlogy from Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) EV charging technology company, which can send energy back to the grid when demand is high. This feature allows EV owners to sell the saved power from their car’s battery, further offsetting the cost of the EV.
The success of the pilot program could serve as a model for other communities looking to increase EV adoption and reduce carbon emissions. Massachusetts has set a goal of convincing almost one million drivers to switch to electric vehicles by 2030, making initiatives like this crucial for achieving the state’s emission reduction goals.