EVOLVE KY meets July 1 deadline with 56 new chargers installed

The Kentucky chapter of the EVA (EVOLVE KY) came very close to meeting its target of 58 new chargers installed across the state before  a July 1 deadline, it was reported by chapter member Mike Proctor.

With a history of successfully shepherding installation projects from start to finish, the chapter had never convinced so many folks in such a short time

The rush to install was due to legislation passed at the eleventh hour of the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly session requiring owners of EV charging stations to pay a three cent per kilowatt-hour excise tax on the energy delivered by public chargers. All charging  stations in place by July 1, 2022 were to be exempt.  

“Chapter co-founder Stuart Ungar worked tirelessly to get as many exempt chargers installed before the deadline as possible,” said Proctor. “The primary intent of the tax was to garner revenue from out-of-state travelers who use Kentucky chargers on their way passing through, but the wide net that was cast caught Kentucky drivers in the snare as well.”

Charging ahead in other areas, too

EVOLVE KY members are standing up for driving electric in other notable ways. At the capitol in Frankfort, they hope to convince lawmakers to either eliminate Level 2 chargers from the tax requirement or at least to allow providers to estimate the usage (similar to how wait staff estimate tip revenue).

On the outreach front,  chapter President Dan Monroe and chapter Secretary Ellen Wade recently appeared in a local television news report about how EVs can be an answer to the gas crisis. Proctor appeared in a second spot on a different channel.

Future outreach events include a ride and drive  event featuring the Ford F-150 Lightening and Rivian pick-ups on July 20 that the chapter is co-sponsoring with the London Kentucky Rotary Club. This will take advantage of the  advent of Ford’s  program to place demo units of the F-150 with local Ford dealers.

“We think the Lightning will light an EV spark in the Bluegrass State,” concluded Proctor.