Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act of 2011 would make buying a plug-in vehicle even cheaper

U.S. Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) have introduced the Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2011 – legislation designed to fast-track the deployment of plug-in vehicle technologies. Markey, the Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee and senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said, in an almost comical sort of way, that the reason for the act is:

As America experiences the rise and fall of gas prices alongside the rise and fall of al Qaeda leadership and other Middle Eastern despots, it is time to tell the oil sheiks funding terror networks that America needs their oil as much as we need their sand. It’s time for America to start driving toward a clean, safe energy future, and electric vehicles can help power the way.

According to the bill’s sponsors, the legislation recognizes that infrastructure challenges are complex. The act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to competitively award up to $300 million to 10 distinct communities across the nation. These communities will then serve as test beds for plug-in vehicle deployment.

The Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Act lays out groundwork that guarantees a plug-in vehicle purchasing incentive of at least $2,000 (beyond existing local and federal credits) for the first 50,000 buyers within each of the ten deployment communities. In addition, it extends, to the end of 2014, federal tax credits for the purchase and installation of charging equipment for individuals (up to $2,000) and businesses (up to $50,000 for multiple equipment purchases).

Finally, the bill authorizes additional monies for development, deployment and manufacturing of electric vehicle-related technologies and approves a limited number of grants for municipalities not selected as a deployment community.

[Source: Green Car Congress]