Jan 23

Jan 23 Lead The EV Charge

Montgomery County Launches Region’s First Electric Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative Pilot Program And County Executive Elrich Issues Challenge For Residents To Buy EVs

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich issued a challenge to County residents and businesses today to “Lead the EV Charge” by pledging to buy electric vehicles as the County launched the Washington Region’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Purchasing Cooperative pilot program. The initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of EVs by the public in an effort to reach the County’s Climate Action Plan goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 and a 100 percent reduction by 2035.

“If we are to achieve our Climate Action Plan goal of zero emissions by 2035, we will need to completely transition our transportation system away from fossil fuels, and we need to start right away,” County Executive Elrich said. “Community members and businesses who take the pledge to make their next vehicle electric will help demonstrate consumer demand for electric vehicles in Montgomery County. We are working to get more people into electric vehicles by making the purchasing process easier. Electric vehicles have lower emissions and operating costs and the program will make them more accessible. It’s going to take all of us doing our part to realize a cleaner future for our community.” 

The pilot phase of the program is scheduled to run from January through May 2022. As a centerpiece of the pilot, County Executive Elrich is challenging residents and businesses to sign an online pledge stating that their next vehicle purchase will be a new or pre-owned electric vehicle. The County set a goal of getting 1,000 Montgomery County residents and 50 businesses to take the pledge this year. 

“The transportation sector comprises 42 percent of Montgomery County’s community-wide greenhouse gas emissions,” said County Climate Change Officer and Acting Director of the Department of Environmental Protection Adriana Hochberg. “To reach Montgomery County’s climate goals we will need to transition from fossil-fuel vehicles to electric vehicles, walk and bike more and use more public transportation to get where we need to go”

Showing support will serve as the foundation for the purchasing cooperative, whereby the co-op members and partners will seek to educate residents and businesses and negotiate favorable pricing for EV purchases and leases on behalf of those who have taken the pledge.

The pledge is available on the County website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/zev.  