Energy
were trained in operating the electric buses, each of which underwent a 500-mile test before passengers were allowed onboard. “It’s a demonstration project to test
the abilities and feasibilities of the buses to make sure all-electric buses meet our needs,” says Jim Price, Hampton Roads Transit’s chief operating officer. Testing will last at least two years, but the company anticipates using the buses for about a dozen years, along with additional electric models. “We would select another route or two that would be good candidates for all electric buses and expand in a controlled environment.” The zero-emission, all-electric buses,
the first for Virginia public transit, each cost approximately $1 million, about twice the amount of a diesel bus. The project is supported by state and federal grants, as well as the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust.
Sparking change Along with public forms of trans-
portation, Dominion is encouraging its customers to switch to electric vehicles for
personal use. With about 20,000 electric vehicles currently on the road, Virginia ranks 15th in the U.S. for electric vehicle use, but Dominion anticipates there will be 170,000 electric vehicles in the state by 2030. “All of those vehicles will need to charge,” Staples notes. “That requires more infrastructure. If we can encourage drivers to charge their vehicles when the infrastructure is not strained, we might not have to put in as much infrastructure. That benefits all of our customers.” Those benefits include rebates that
Dominion recently introduced for qualify- ing electric vehicle charging stations in multifamily communities, workplaces, transit bus depots and fast-charging loca- tions through the utility’s Smart Charging Infrastructure Pilot Program. Approved by the State Corporation Commission, rebates for infrastructure, chargers and network fees range from $2,000 to more than $50,000 per project. A rebate program to be launched
this year will offer incentives for electric vehicle owners to charge their vehicles during off-peak times. “Charging electric
vehicles uses energy from the grid,” Staples notes. “It’s more beneficial to use energy at certain times of the day, so we’re using smart technology incentives to encourage customers to charge their vehicles when the strain on the grid is not so high. If their car is parked, most folks don’t care when it’s charging as long as it is charged when they need it.” Dominion also is installing four public,
fast-charging stations in Northern Virginia as part of its rideshare electrification initiative. Currently, there are 701 public charging stations across Virginia, including 118 fast charging sites that can charge an electric vehicle battery to 80% in less than 30 minutes. In addition, Dominion is transition-
ing one-quarter of its light duty fleet to electric vehicles and is installing charging stations at its offices and offering incentives to employees who purchase an electric vehicle. “Once folks drive electric vehicles, they
really love them,” Staples says. “They’re very quiet, very efficient and very fun to drive.”
Hampton Roads Transit Chief Operating Officer Jim Price says the system is testing its six electric buses for the next couple years in a partnership with Dominion Energy.
56 | FEBRUARY 2021
Photo by Mark Rhodes
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