LIPA offers $500 rebate for plug-in cars
A Chevy Volt delivered to a dealer in Freeport is washed. (Dec. 15, 2010) Credit: Newsday /Alejandra Villa
The Long Island Power Authority will offer a one-time $500 rebate to customers who buy a plug-in hybrid or plug-in electric vehicle, the utility announced Monday.
Chief operating officer Michael Hervey said LIPA was the first utility in New York State to offer such a rebate program. "Providing incentives for these cars, which will likely be charged at off-peak times, will allow for LIPA to purchase power at lower costs, which benefits all of our customers economically and environmentally," he said.
LIPA said the amount is equivalent to the cost of charging a plug-in electric vehicle for one year or the cost of an optional 240-volt charging station that cuts the otherwise 10-hour charging time to about four hours. The rebate will be available until the end of 2011.
Last week, Long Island dealerships began accepting the first deliveries of the Chevrolet Volt extended range car, one of several new mass market electric cars from major automakers.
Bill Rosenthal, 49, of East Hampton, who bought a Volt Monday from Atlantic Chevrolet Cadillac in Bay Shore, described himself as the ideal customer.
Rosenthal, a business owner, commutes only a mile to work and often drives less than 40 miles a week - the distance the car can go on one 10-hour charge. "I could go a week on one charge," he said. He estimated that the cost of electricity would be about $1.30 to fully charge the car. That compares with gasoline prices on the East End, about which he said, "Forget it, we're up near $4" a gallon.
The Volt differs from hybrid gasoline-electric cars, such as the Toyota Prius, in that it uses plug-in rechargeable batteries running two electric motors. It has a gasoline engine on board to extend its range. Sticker price for the Volt begins at $41,000 with freight. It qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax rebate.
Rosenthal, who now owns two Volts - he bought one for his company last week from Eagle Chevrolet in Riverhead - said his second Volt cost about $44,500, but would save more than $8,000 after federal and LIPA rebates, as well as a federal energy rebate.
The "pure" electric Nissan Leaf is expected to be available in this region next year. Other plug-in hybrids and electric cars are expected soon from Toyota, Ford and Honda.
