Roanoke Electric Cooperative has announced a new pilot program that will offer member-owners a reduced rate for charging their electric vehicles. The discounted “subscription rate,” approved recently by the co-op’s board of directors, takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
The co-op is encouraging member-owners who own an electric vehicle or who are interested in purchasing one to participate in its EV Pilot Program.
“EV adoption rates have grown tremendously nationally and in North Carolina over the past several years. Although the adoption in our region is at a very early stage, the co-op anticipates this trend will grow locally in the near future,” said Curtis Wynn, the co-op’s president and CEO. “This pilot program allows us to fulfill our mission and keep rates affordable through various programs and services in a respectful and environmentally responsible way.”
The co-op’s new rate, a flat fee of $50 per month for up to 450 kWh, is ideal for EV owners who charge their vehicles overnight during non-peak hours and who drive 50 miles or less each day. The driving range for an all-electric vehicle typically ranges from around 80 to more than 300 miles on a full charge.
Additional program benefits are noted as follows:
- For the $50 per month subscription rate, EV owners can keep their battery-operated vehicle charged enough to drive nearly 1,500 miles.
- The $50 flat rate compares to the nearly $185 it would cost to keep a 20 miles per gallon gas-powered car going for that same distance.
- Participating EV owners will have the added convenience of “re-charging” at home with a new charging station, valued at $1,700. Under the new EV Program, the charger will be professionally installed in homes, at no upfront cost to the member-owner.
The co-op is seeking electric vehicle owners in its membership to sign up for the year-long pilot. Those interested in learning more about electric vehicles are encouraged to contact the co-op. Co-op staff will share more detailed information about how they work and the cost-savings potential. Member-owners may also schedule a test drive in the co-op’s electric vehicle.
“Our goal is to inform and educate members about EVs,” Wynn said. “We would also like to sign up as many member-owners as possible for our 2020 pilot program, so we can strengthen our services and learn from our program’s results.”
For more information about the co-op’s EV Pilot Program, call (252) 209-2236 or visit our Electric Vehicles page.