Batavia Considers Financial Perks For Electric Car Owners

BATAVIA, IL -- Batavia officials are looking into offering a rebate to residents who purchase charger for their plug-in or electric vehicle with the hopes of selling more electricity. The city also hopes the proposed plan would encourage residents to drive vehicles that produce fewer pollutants, the Daily Herald reports.

"It seems a little bit counterintuitive to think using more electricity is greener, but it is," Andrew Greenhagen, a member of the Batavia Environmental Commission, told aldermen during the meeting last week. The commission, which is proposing the plan, is suggesting a $500 rebate be offered to those who buy the Level 2 charger for their electric vehicle as well as a $1,000 rebate for those who purchase a new electric or plug-in car, according to the Daily Herald.

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The Daily Herald reports:

The federal energy department estimates that electric vehicles use 30 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles driven, and the transportation department says the average driver logs 13,000 miles a year. So an electric car driven those 13,000 miles would consume 3,900 kWh of electricity a year. At 10.389 cents per kWh, an owner would pay $1,350 a year to Batavia for electricity if they recharged only in the city.
Batavia would budget $10,000 for the program in 2018. Rebates would be limited to one per household, and only people who install new chargers could get one. They would have to provide proof of purchase and installation.

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