Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 10, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 15 Saving.Energy • Developing.Solar • Storing.Energy Develop.Energy Solutions BUILDING A CLEANER, SUSTAINABLE, AND MORE PROFITABLE ENVIRONMENT BY PROVIDING SOLUTIONS THAT SAVE, DEVELOP, AND STORE ENERGY. 508-841-5245 Shrewsbury, MA Helping businesses and homes find the best energy solutions. November's Free Seminar: Lower overhead with solar PV on your commercial property. Register at: www.Develop.Energy Saving.Energy • Developing.Solar • Storing.Energy Develop.Energy Solutions BUILDING A CLEANER, SUSTAINABLE, AND MORE PROFITABLE ENVIRONMENT BY PROVIDING SOLUTIONS THAT SAVE, DEVELOP, AND STORE ENERGY. 508-841-5245 Shrewsbury, MA Helping businesses and homes find the best energy solutions. November's Free Seminar: Lower overhead with solar PV on your commercial property. Register at: www.Develop.Energy We help businesses and organizations communicate with purpose, clarity and effect, but knowing our business isn't enough. We know yours too. Boston Providence Washington, DC (866) 411-7321 www.ConoverGould.com Environment l Si ng & Permi ng l Healthcare l Corporate l Government l Non-Profit tric vehicles, said Will Lauwers, emerg- ing technologies director for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Resources, who added a new change makes vehicles costing more than $60,000 only eligible for a $1,000 state incentive. As time goes on the decision by companies and individuals over whether to get electric vehicles will increasingly be a straight business case, said Lauwers. "With the increasing number of options in the electric vehicle segment, there will be more and more business cases where it will make sense," he said. An organization must also weigh the additional cost of buy-in for the elec- tric vehicle, said Church, as well as the cost of the infrastructure. For the WRTA, the difference today is a roughly $275,000 premium for the electric bus over a similar diesel model while also requiring the installation of a $650,000 fast-charging station. "You have to install into the backup infrastructure," Church said. "You have to factor all of this into your budget and into your operating cost. When [the price of ] fuel is up, these are great." While the vehicles remain signifi- cantly more expensive, on the positive side for electric vehicles is a drivetrain that needs less maintenance than a tra- ditional internal combustion engine, Lauwers said. This is on top of potential fuel savings. For Church, the WRTA's decision was not driven by looking for pure savings, but to diversify the fleet and insulate against fossil fuel fluctuations. Availability restrictions However, the biggest limitations for a company comes down to whether an appropriate application exists. According to Clermont, the heavy- duty and light-duty end of the vehicle market have strong electric support. This includes electric buses, but also delivery and waste management vehicles. However, these are not vehicles that fleet managers can just walk into a dealer and buy off the lot, Clermont said. The lighter-utility, consumer-grade electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, however do have fleet procurement programs and are available through local dealers. There is still a lack of options in the middle grade, which is where many fleets operate, Clermont said. The main benefit electric utility National Grid sees from operating its 55-electric- vehicle fleet is providing a cleaner working environment for its employees. W A t t o r n e y s & B u s i n e s s A d v i s o r s W W W . D A R R O W E V E R E T T . C O M R H O D E I S L A N D | M A S S A C H U S E T T S | N E W Y O R K deal·mak·ers ˈdēlˌmākər/ noun 1. (See DarrowEverett L L P)

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