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Johns Creek Herald | March 26, 2015 | 23 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com W VIE HEL BET

Popularity for electric vehicles grows in Georgia BUF ORD DAM RD

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Charging station address list*

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4 ATLANTA – Roswell resident John Copenhaver is a proud 1 Tesla Model S P85+ owner who 5 said he truly gets a thrill out of 7 6 owning and driving his car. He appreciates the car’s performance and likes the technol8 9 ogy “under the hood.” 20 “The Tesla is truly the OL AB DM BO ILT TT ON next generation of cars,” said 14 S PK BR WY ID 18 21 GE Copenhaver. “Electric car RD 13 19 16 technology advanced with the 12 10 introduction of Tesla.” W E RD 11 G AT S 15 ID ER Copenhaver is not alone. LE BR S BO RD ES . He is one of many drivers in 23 JON JOHNS CREEK Georgia who have made the ST AT 17 E BR 22 switch from traditional, interID GE RD nal combustion vehicles to allA RD AM AB ROSWELL OLD AL electric-powered vehicles. Electric cars are growing increasingly popular in Georgia, and many consum24H ers are caught in a whirlwind OL CO M B of information and opinions BR ID G E surrounding electric vehicles. RD On one hand, they can use SANDY SPRINGS less carbon-emitting fuel, but consumers are also wary about nate the prohibition of direct “range anxiety” and charging cities of Sandy Springs, Susale of automobiles within the time, as well as the overall wanee and Peachtree Corners state – necessitating Georgia practicality of using an electric have received funding from the Pros registrants to pay the curvehicle (EV) as a daily driver. state to install EV charging • Very smooth driving rent ad valorem tax on some Still, the state has become stations. Georgia Power will experience vehicles titled in other states, a large market for electric vehi- also soon add 50 paid pub• Very quiet like Teslas (manufactured in cles. According to Clean Cities lic charging locations across • Home recharging California). In addition, House Georgia, which advocates for the state. The user-updated • Cheaper to operate Bill 220, sponsored by Rep. clean transportation in GeorPlugShare mobile app, availthan traditional vehicles Ben Harbin (R-Evans) progia, the state is now second in able on most smartphones, – no oil changes, etc. the nation for registered EVs, allows EV drivers to find charg- poses a reduction of the credit • No tailpipe emissions amount depending on battery with an ownership growth rate ing stations and make use of Cons capacity. of over 600 percent between the budding public charging • Range anxiety/limited Cohen said that abolishing 2013 and 2014. infrastructure. range the EV tax credit would be a Jeff Cohen of the Atlanta The popularity of electri• Significant recharging mistake. Electric Vehicle Coalition (AEcally powered cars in Georgia time “EV sales in Georgia will VDC) says that when it comes is largely due to the $5,000 tax • Higher initial cost decelerate fairly rapidly,” to EVs on the road, “Georgia credit provided by the state on • Lack of choice Cohen said. “Georgians will go outpaces the natop of the $7,500 tion by a factor of federal tax credit. from being incentivized to buy or lease EVs to actually being 3:1.” “We got to be stations.” dis-incentivized.” Further, the No. 2 state However, Peter BronElectric vehicle drivers ofautomaker Nisin the nation beski, editorial director at the san claims that cause a tax credit ten experience “range anxiety,” eco-centric Rocky Mountain a phenomenon that explains Georgia is the dating back to Institute (RMI), says that range the common worry of running largest market in 1998 permitted anxiety is subjective, and those the country for $5,000 for a ‘zero out of electric charge. Whereas who believe it will conflict with the all-electric emission vehicle,’ traditional vehicles are able their way of life shouldn’t purto be completely refilled in a Nissan Leaf. which did not chase an electric vehicle in the matter of minutes, EVs must As more exist back then first place. charge for several hours, electric venor was it even “EV drivers do their rerendering it necessary for the hicles appear on contemplated,” search and thus know if an driver to carefully plan trips. Georgia streets, said Cohen. EV – and its range – is a good Range anxiety is often a main public charging The tax credit fit for them,” said Bronski on concern of those considering infrastructure continues to be JEFF COHEN the RMI blog. “You don’t see purchasing an electric vehicle. is beginning to disputed within Atlanta Electric Vehicle Coalition a construction foreman with Copenhaver says he experiappear in cities the state legisa need for a work truck buy a ences some degree of range across the state. lature as some two-door Honda Fit and then anxiety even with the 200-plus Roswell recently members are complain about its extremely mile range of the Tesla. announced the installation vying instead to use the credit “I [experience range anxiety] limited payload capacity. You of four new charging stations money to maintain infrastrucbecause there aren’t more pub- get the vehicle that matches around the city. At a relatively ture. House Bill 122, sponlic charging stations, and the low cost of $1 per hour for the sored by Rep. Chuck Martin your needs and wants.” [long] time it takes to charge first four hours, the charging (R-Alpharetta), proposes the In order to mitigate range stations will allow Roswell EV elimination of the current state up the battery,” he said. “Beanxiety, drivers should take fore EVs are widely accepted drivers to charge while away tax credit on EVs. advantage of home charging. as being a primary car, there from home. Martin also has introduced “The most important thing must be more public charging In addition to Roswell, the legislation that would elimian EV owner can do is inA TT

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Georgians will go from being incentivized to buy or lease EVs to actually being disincentivized.”

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Kroger, 12870 Highway 9, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 2. ESS Kroger, 5665 Atlanta G R Highway, Alpharetta, Ga. BU ES M 30004 JA 3. Net Zero USA of Atlanta, 7565 Industrial Court, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 4. Kohl’s, 13097 Highway 9 North, Milton, Ga. 30004 5. Kimberly Clark Office Building, 5405 Windward Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 6. Lakeview 400 Business Park, 2575 Westside Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 7. Duke Realty, 800 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 8. 7 stations at Avalon, 2200 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 9. Walgreens, 173 South Main St., Alpharetta, Ga. 30004 10. Hilton Garden Inn North Point, 10975 Georgia Lane, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 11. Cousins Properties 100/200 Building, 100 North Point Center East Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 12. Cousins Properties 555/333 Building, 555 North Point Center East, Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 13. Sanctuary Park: The Falls garage, 1125 Sanctuary Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 14. Sanctuary Park: Stonebridge III garage, 1130 Sanctuary Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 15. Cherokee Ford Lincoln, 1575 Mansell Road, Alpharetta, Ga. 30009 16. Hennessy Porsche, 990 Mansell Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 17. Regal Nissan, 1090 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 18. United BMW of Roswell, 11458 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Ga. 30076 19. Roswell Mitsubishi, 11170 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, Ga. 30076 20. Emory Johns Creek Hospital, 6325 Hospital Parkway, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 21. Hilton Garden Inn, 11695 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek, Ga. 30097 22. Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill Street, Roswell, Ga. 30075 23. Roswell Area Park, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell, Ga. 30075 24. East Roswell Park, 9000 Fouts Road, Roswell, Ga. 30076 *According to PlugShare.com RD

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Pending legislation may slow interest

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vest in a 240V/30 amp home charging system,” said Cohen. “You can charge up your EV at home and keep the battery topped off.” A home charging system gives the vehicle a faster charge than from a standard outlet, allowing the driver to more easily maintain maximum range capability. Cohen is optimistic about the future of EV battery technology, and says innovation will make owning and using electric cars easier and more practical.