Atlanta Electric Vehicle Development Coalition

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Monthly Archives: February 2015


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EV Tax Credits Update March 1, 2015: HB 122 Back in Consideration! EV Ride & Drive March 4th.

March 1, 2015

While nothing has been officially reported out of the Georgia State Assembly, House Ways and Means Committee, we have learned that HB 122 was revoted on within the Income Tax Sub committee and PASSED.  It joins HB 200 and HB 220 for full House Ways and Means Committee consideration and vote which could come as early as next week. HB 122 language (eliminate $5000 ZEV tax credit) is still in HB 170 (Transportation Committee) which has reached the House floor and remains intact in that legislation, along with the $200/year EV road use fee.

On Wednesday, March 4th, automotive OEMs will host a EV/PHEV ‘ride and drive’ event at Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State Capitol to demonstrate to House and Senate Representatives the technology and value of electric vehicles. BMW, Ford, GM, Nissan and KIA (bringing the first ever SOUL-EV to Georgia) will be on hand with vehicles.

If you want to have your voice heard to retain the EV Tax Credit, please visit www.gavevcredit.com.

Watch for an update following this week’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing.  News on HB 170 and 393 will be updated as new information becomes available.

February 22, 2015

Another busy week at the Georgia State Assembly.  HB 200 and HB 220 advance to the House Ways and Means Full Committee next week.  HB 170 (Transportation Bill) contains language in the now defeated HB 122 and a new Bill (HB 393- Martin) was introduced into the Motor Vehicle committee to allow direct sale of automobiles in Georgia.  This will permit Tesla to sell its cars directly in Georgia if automotive franchise laws were changed per this Bill.

Here’s a link to the story written by EV Club of the South President Michael Beinenson outlining what happened last week. http://insideevs.com/lawmakers-love-electric-cars-georgia-5-bills-pending/

For more information on HB 220, please visit www.gavevcredit.com

February 17, 2015

Begining at 2:00 PM on Wednesday February 18th, the Georgia State Assembly House of Representatives will take up four Bills which focus on the electric vehicle via the Income Tax sub-committee of the House Ways and Means Committee:

HB 122 – proposes the repeal of the current $5,000 ZEV and $2,500 LEV tax by July 1, 2015. DEFEATED

HB 176 – proposes including all high mileage vehicles including gas hybrids and 47 mpg vehicles in a $2,000 tax credit along with a $10 million budget cap and in perpetuity the tax credit to (currently unavailable) hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. DEFEATED

HB 200 – proposes broadening the definition of the existing electric vehicle charging station tax credit to include retail and commercial buildings at a maximum of $2,500/station along with an annual $750,000 budget cap. PASSED SUB COMMITTEE

HB 220 – proposes the reduction in the ZEV tax credit, inclusion of PHEVs, a $30 million budget cap and a sunset period. PASSED SUB COMMITTEE.

Check back for an update on the outcome of this intense debate!


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Georgia’s Leadership On Electric Vehicles Delivers Huge Benefits To Drivers

The Union of Concerned Scientists released the following statement about the benefits of driving on electricity to the State of Georgia:

ATLANTA (February 11, 2015)— “In 2014 alone, Georgia drivers saved 4.5 million gallons of gasoline thanks to electric vehicles – and that means these drivers have an extra $10 million to put back into the local economy. A new analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) shows that driving 100 miles in the average conventional vehicle costs a Georgia driver $13.57 – but in an electric vehicle, driving those same 100 miles cost $3.53 or less. The UCS analysis also shows how important it is for Georgia to continue implementing forward-thinking policies that expand access to electric vehicles in the state.

Georgia is a national leader in electric vehicles, thanks in part to strong state policies that help Georgia drivers take advantage of the many benefits of driving on electricity. Georgia has the second-highest number of electric vehicles on the road in the country, and Atlanta passed Seattle this year to become the second-biggest metro area for electric vehicles.

“Electric vehicles are cheaper to fuel, are cleaner to operate, and are benefitting Georgia drivers,” says Joshua Goldman, a lead policy analyst for UCS. “Georgia has been a pioneer in putting electric cars on the road.”

While gas prices rise and fall, electricity rates in Georgia have been relatively stable for years. Electric vehicles protect drivers from future changes in gas prices.

“I’m really encouraged by the progress we’ve made on electric vehicles,” said Anne Blair, the Clean Fuels Director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “I hope leaders here in Georgia recognize how important electric vehicles are, and what a standout Georgia is on adopting them.”

Georgia has thousands of electric vehicles on the road, but there’s still room for growth. Policies that encourage consumers to choose electric vehicles will continue to pay dividends for Georgians.”

Click here to get the facts on the benefits of driving on electricity in Georgia: UCS Study EVs and Georgia


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UPDATED: Four Bills in Georgia House of Representatives Addressing Electric Vehicle Tax Credit

Everyone who has even a passing familiarity with the $5,000 ZEV Georgia State Income Tax Credit knew the pressure would be on to: a). kill it.  b). save it or c). transform it.  Well it looks like all three are going to be debated at the State Capitol during the 2015 Georgia State Legislative Session.

HB 220 sponsored by Ben Harbin (R- Evans) seeks to reduce the tax credit, broaden it to  plug in hybrids, set an annual cap and sunset the tax credit by 2019.  http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/220.

http://m.onlineathens.com/breaking-news/2015-02-11/state-lawmaker-favors-phase-out-electric-car-tax-credit#gsc.tab=0

HB 122 which calls for an immediate repeal of the tax credit effective July 1, 2015, sponsored by Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/122

HB 176 sponsored by Tommy Benton (R-Jefferson) which seeks to broaden the tax credit to include gas-hybrids, high mileage cars and future hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles. Annual cap is $10 million and $2,000 credit only applies to Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles in 2017 and beyond. http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/176

Here’s a handy PDF which summarizes and compares the three Bills being processed by the House Ways and Means Sub-committee as early as this week:  Comparison of Electric Vehicle Georgia Assembly Bills

In addition the House Transportation Committee passed HB 170 bill which includes the language from HB 122 (eliminate EV Tax Credit) as part of the transportation funding proposal in addition to assessing EV drivers a $200.00/year road use fee.  http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/170

Next week all three Bills in the Ways and Means Committee are expected to be addressed.  Check back to see what is happening with these Bills.