County likely to buy 4 electric vehicles
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. » Dutchess County expects to join a Central Hudson program to purchase four allelectric vehicles at a 33 percent discount off the manufacturer’s price.
The program, through which the county will purchase of Nissan Leaf Model S vehicles, is aimed at promoting clean transportation alternatives while enabling customers of the utility to buy the vehicles at reduced rates.
The cars will cost $22,005 each, compared to the list price of $33,705, and can travel up to 100 miles on a full charge at a cost 50 to 70 percent less operating than a fuel-powered vehicle.
The county also would purchase four dual-port Level 2 charging stations at a cost of $10,000 per station, which includes installation. They would be placed around the county and be available for both county and public use. The purchases require county Legislature approval, and Chairman Dale Borchert said he supports it. “I think it is a great opportunity for the county to take advantage of a grant to purchase electric cars and charging stations,” said Borchert, R-LaGrange. “It does seem like a pretty straightforward opportunity to use some green technology at a very low cost.”
The Legislature is to vote on the purchases at its Sept. 11 meeting.
The county Department of Public Works, which handles the county’s motor pool, would assign the cars to various departments for short trips in the county.
County Executive Marc Molinaro said the purchase of the vehicles “goes hand in hand with our efforts to promote clean, renewable energy throughout Dutchess County.”
Molinaro, a Republican, said the cars will help reduce the county’s carbon footprint and be a “sensible financial and energysaving investment.”