Recent tax policy analysis by the Great Plains Institute (GPI) for Drive Electric Minnesota found that electric cars pay just as much or more taxes as comparable gasoline vehicles. Like most other states, Minnesota uses a tax on the sale of gasoline and other motor fuel to pay for transportation infrastructure like highways and bridges, among other uses. Continue reading »
Since electric vehicles became widely available in 2011 the market has been somewhat limited. Consumers throughout the world faced a choice among three distinct options: 1) a vehicle like the Nissan Leaf, a relatively low cost and low range battery electric vehicle (BEV), 2) a higher cost, higher range BEV like the Tesla Model S, 3) or the all-around utility of a Chevy Volt or another plug in hybrid (PHEV). This paradigm may soon fall apart, and that’s a good thing. Continue reading »
Volkswagen (VW) and the US Justice Department signed a historic agreement last week to settle the lawsuit over its emissions cheating scandal. VW will pay more than $15 billion to make things right. In a twist of fate – a lawsuit over diesel engines may end up being a catalytic event in moving towards a much lower emission transportation system. Continue reading »
It was Thursday, September 1st – just nine days before National Drive Electric week was going to kick off – when we picked up the keys to our very own Nissan Leaf and hit the highway for an epic road trip. Continue reading »
Since the signage of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and the Swedish Ministry for Enterprise and Innovation on bioenergy cooperation, a Swedish Delegation has worked with the Great Plains Institute to help convene interested parties in the exchange of ideas and to build long-term relationships for potential bioenergy project collaboration.
On June 16, Tennant Co. held its annual employee expo, featuring an electric vehicle (EV) ride and drive presented by Drive Electric Minnesota and its partners.
Nissan brought two Leafs for participants to take around the block. Many employees showed enthusiasm and expressed enjoyment on their first spin in an EV. Continue reading »
Although the regular session for the Minnesota legislature concluded on May 23, we are still waiting to see if legislative leaders can come to agreement on a special session to address unfinished issues from the regular session: investments for public works projects and transportation. However, a few days after the end of regular session, Governor Mark Dayton signed the supplemental budget bill. Continue reading »
In a year of divided government and low expectations for achieving big policy wins in Minnesota, we have the opportunity to move forward with a piece of energy policy that is broadly supported. Drive Electric Minnesota is advocating for a policy (SF 2405/HF3513) that would enable the state’s largest regulated utilities to begin planning for the arrival of mass-market electric vehicles. Continue reading »
Last week, I had the pleasure to present at MPR’s “Minnesota’s Iron Range Ideas for the Future.” Fluctuations in economic cycles are not new and with each iteration of hard times comes an opportunity to innovate and move forward. I’m the lead facilitator of the Bioeconomy Coalition of Minnesota and I would like to share with you an opportunity for building a brand new industry in the Iron Range: sustainable biobased products from wood. Continue reading »
