Phoenix Promotes Electric Vehicles For Increased Sustainability

Alternative fuel vehicles have been promoted by the U.S. Government for a long time, offering significant incentives to those who buy hybrids and electric cars, and enforcing stricter emissions standards, which is why more and more car makers have started producing green vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and have low or zero emission levels.

National Plug In Day

In 2011, a National Plug In Day was established, in efforts to celebrate the benefits of green vehicles and raise people’s awareness of the negative effects gasoline-powered cars have on the environment and what they can do to help reduce air pollution and preserve the environment.

This year, it was held on September 28 and 29, and over 90 cities across the U.S. were included. Phoenix was one of those cities, which marked the National Plug In Day with a series of events which included representatives from the City of Phoenix, the Arizona Public Service (APS) the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP).

Phoenix Promotes Sustainability

Phoenix Mayor, Greg Stanton, has said that the city is committed to preserving the environment, and promoting the use of electric vehicles is a large part of these efforts. Phoenix has one of the most extensive networks of electric vehicles charging stations in the country, with a total of 518 station spread all over the Phoenix area. This is a great way for motivating more people to buy electric cars, since lack of charging stations has always been one of the biggest disadvantages of owning an electric vehicle. The network’s charging stations are compatible with the most-common electric and hybrid vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf, and the Toyota Plug-In Hybrid.

One of the goals that the city wanted to achieve through these events is make people realize that the authorities will help both financially and logistically everyone who is willing to stop using conventional cars and switch to green cars.

Fuel Savings from Electrical Vehicles

Using an electric vehicle can help you save about $125 a month in fuel costs, according to Jeff Guldner, the Arizona Public Service senior vice president for customers and regulation. Yearly savings for EV owners can go up to $1,400, which is a significant amount of money. In addition to the financial benefits that consumers will have by buying electric cars, they will help improve the air quality and reduce illnesses caused by air pollution.

Will Toor, Director of Transportation Programs, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, stated that electric cars help the country be less independent from imported oil, which is a significant strategic goal for the whole nation. As far as how much people living in Arizona could be saving in the future this way, the SEEP claims that it could be somewhere around $500 a year by 2030.

Luis Gonzalez, the former Diamondbacks player, was one of the speakers at the event, too. He said that driving electric cars was good for everyone who lives in Phoenix, but for the city, as well. By giving the opportunity to a famous sports star to talk about electric vehicles, the city wanted to reach the younger population and get them to realize the benefits of electric cars.

Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “green cars” specialist. He is a writer for DMV.com, which is a collaborative community designed to help ease the stress and annoyance of “dealing with the DMV”.