{"id":11207,"date":"2018-07-03T13:49:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T17:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=11207"},"modified":"2018-07-06T12:59:06","modified_gmt":"2018-07-06T16:59:06","slug":"plug-in-at-habitat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/plug-in-at-habitat\/","title":{"rendered":"Plug In At Habitat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Habitat Education Center<\/a> in Belmont has a new Electric Vehicle Charging Station, the second at a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary (Joppa Flats<\/a> in Newburyport has the other).\u00a0Electric Vehicles (EVs) are great tool for fighting climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.<\/p>\n

We simply need more of them on the road and more places to recharge.\u00a0Adding charging stations at our sanctuaries is just one of steps Mass Audubon is taking to lead by example<\/a>. Here’s why:<\/span><\/p>\n

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EVs are Better for the Environment<\/h3>\n

Even when charged by electricity generated from coal, EVs are responsible for fewer heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In Massachusetts, they are better still, since our electricity comes from greener sources.<\/p>\n

At Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries, all of our electricity is either generated by our own solar panels or purchased from renewable sources, so charging your EV at Habitat is about as clean as it gets.<\/p>\n

EVs Cost Less<\/h3>\n

EVs are cheaper to own over the lifetime of the vehicle, since they require less maintenance, include fewer moving parts, and are by many assessments more reliable.<\/p>\n

Getting More EVs on the Road<\/h3>\n

There are two primary reasons there aren’t more EVs on the road right now. The first is EVs cost more up front. In Massachusetts, there are a number of incentives that can reduce the purchase price to less than that of a comparable gasoline-powered car for a private buyer.<\/p>\n

The second barrier to EV ownership is a lack of charging stations. Businesses and organizations are hesitant to install charging stations without a steady stream of EVs to use them, but drivers are hesitant to buy EVs until there are more charging stations to recharge. Something needs to break the cycle, and that\u2019s one reason why Habitat and other sanctuaries are looking into installing charging stations.<\/p>\n

Thanks for Generous Support!<\/h3>\n

Donations from the following people covered the cost of the actual charging station:<\/p>\n