New coalition hopes to bring more electric cars to the Central Coast
A new coalition is looking to save drivers from rising gas prices while going greener. Electric Drive 805 is aiming to increase access to electric cars in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
Andy Mutziger is part of the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District, one of the agencies that form part of Electric Drive 805.
“Vehicles are the largest source of pollution in California,” said Mutziger. “[Our goal is to] implement alternative fuel infrastructure in the Central Coast region.”
The new coalition is offering more than $150,000 in grants to businesses and shopping centers to help with installations, identifying the best spots to put electric charging stations in the three counties.
The organization is also working with local governments to streamline permits for charging stations.
“The city of San Luis Obispo has been working PG&E’s Charge Network program and they are currently in the process of finishing 19 chargers that are being installed in the parking structures,” Mutziger said.
Experts say electric vehicles can also save drivers more money. The Department of Energy reports that charging an electric car costs about half as much as fueling a car with gasoline.
The Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance, the Community Environmental Council, the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, and the Air Pollution Control Districts of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties are the agencies making up Electric Drive 805.
