New Jersey lawmakers have introduced a set of bills that looks to increase the amount of people who purchase and drive electric vehicles.
AAA says that 1 in 5 Americans are considering switching to an electric car the next time they buy a vehicle. But many drivers tell News 12 New Jersey that they are concerned about how many miles they would be able to drive on a single charge.
“Style is one thing because you have a lot of the hybrids and electrics, they’re a little off. But definitely power is a concern,” says Basking Ridge resident Jeff Bauer.
Basking Ridge Chevrolet sales agent James Lawson says that power is the No. 1 question he gets about the electric Chevy Bolt.
“We’ve seen where people are getting well over 300 miles on a charge and up to 350 miles, so you could actually go a long distance without having to worry about charging,” he says.
New Jersey already gives drivers some incentives to purchase an electric car. Drivers who live in New Jersey and purchase an electric car do not have to pay sales tax – saving them thousands of dollars.
A new bill would also study the electric car charging infrastructure around the state. Another bill would establish a public-private pilot program to bring in more charging stations. Some of the fast chargers can give drivers 60 to 80 miles on a charge of just 20 minutes.
A state committee also approved a bill for electric school buses. The bill would allow a wider measurement for clean emissions for school buses across the state, which the bill’s sponsors say will allow districts to transform their fleets.