The NJ Electric Vehicle Law (Public Law 2021, c. 171), signed by Governor Murphy in July of 2021, states goals for New Jersey of 330,000 Plug-In EVs (PEVs) by 2025, 2 Million PEVs by 2035 and requires that 85% of vehicles sold/leased in NJ shall be PEVs by 2040.

Recently the Governor raised the near-term requirement to have 100% of light-duty vehicles sold in NJ be PEV by 2035.

The goal for Madison, approved by the council in 2023, is that Madison have registered 1200 PEVs by the end of 2025. This goal was arrived at by analysis done in Madison and by the NJDEP.

Progress (as of Dec 2022) toward these goals is shown below for New Jersey and for Madison. Each graph has an upper curve that reaches the goal numbers in 2025 (330,000 PEVs for NJ and 1200 for Madison) although the graph only covers through 2023 for clarity. The lower curve on each graph shows PEV counts from NJDEP data. 

Both for Madison and for the state, as a whole, the PEV counts are somewhat behind the numbers needed to reach the stated goals. Hopefully, some of the new federal and state incentives announced in 2023 will help the pace of EV growth accelerate.

The Borough of Madison cannot recommend any one electric vehicle (EV) over another. However, as of late-2022 here is a list of the EVs that Madisonians are driving. As you can see, the full Battery-powered EVs (BEVs) are now more popular than the Plug-In Hybrid EVs (PHEVs).

Visit PlugStar for an excellent catalog of all current Battery EVs and Plug-In Hybrid EVs with photos and price and range data. The site can also provide information on currently available federal and state incentives for each model.

A good intro to the different incentives available for electric vehicles (EV) can be found here.

Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

Usually, the largest incentive is the federal ITC which can range up to $7500. However, there are (a) income level restrictions, and (b) requirements on the country of origin for your car and its parts. Check these out before buying on the official IRS site. 

A flow chart to determine your federal ITC and a list of eligible EVs can be found here.

There is also a federal incentive to support the expense of installing a home charger.

NJ State Incentives

New Jersey is currently offering (Aug 2023) an incentive on new EVs up to $4000. The program opened up on July 12, 2023, and 64% of the $90 million available has already been obligated. The funds will likely be exhausted in September 2023. 

The state incentive programs change frequently. Here are two top-level resources that should lead to whatever programs are currently open:

• NJDEP 
• NJ Clean Energy

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

When calculating the TCO for an EV, it is important to include the purchase price, the federal and state incentives, and an estimate of the fuel costs over the life of the vehicle. When all those factors are considered, many EVs compare favorably with their similar fossil-powered counterparts. There are many online TCO comparison tools for different cars.

This AAA site provides insight into the total cost of ownership for an EV and also reassurance that the range anxiety of some consumers typically disappears after they buy an EV.

The Borough of Madison is proud to be the fourth Destination Electric community in New Jersey! Visit, shop, dine, explore, learn, and charge right here in Madison! Learn more here.

Thanks to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Department's "It Pay$ to Plug In" program for providing grants to offset the cost of purchasing and installing electric vehicle charging stations. The program is designed to expand New Jersey’s electric vehicle infrastructure network, allowing residents, businesses, and government agencies to purchase and drive electric vehicles. EVs dramatically reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality for everyone.

In August 2019, the Borough of Madison was awarded our first reimbursement grant for an initial purchase of ten Level 2 EV Charging Stations for installation in five locations. The Borough chose the SemaConnect (Blink Charging) Series 6 Smart EV Charging Station based on:

• Superior technical performance
• Financial value
• Aesthetics
• Excellent service, warranty, and network system

In 2020, the ten Level 2 EV Charging Stations were installed in the five locations noted on the maps below. These are 6.24 kW chargers that will provide you with 5-10% of your battery’s capacity in an hour of charging. We suggest you download the Blink app, which will make it easy to use one of our charging stations. Because it’s connected to their network, you can see if your favorite station is available in real-time. Plus, if you have access to Members Only stations, you can initiate a charge through the app. 

In early 2021, the Borough of Madison was awarded a second NJDEP "It Pay$ To Plug In" grant, and the additional five dual-port level 2 charging stations are now installed and fully operational. In 2023 the Borough also received a grant to install a DC Fast Charger. This will be completed in 2024.

There are four ways to charge the battery in your EV:

1. No Charger: Most EVs will be able to be charged very slowly from a household wall 120V outlet. Be sure you have the correct adapter between the 120V outlet and your car’s charging port. Typically this will provide 1-2% of your battery’s capacity for each hour of charging.
2. Level I Charger: A Level I charger is connected to your household 120V circuit. This will provide 5-10% of your battery’s capacity for each hour of charging.
3. Level II Charger: A Level II charger is connected to your household 240V circuit. This will provide 15-30% of your battery’s capacity for each hour of charging and can fully charge your BEV from empty in 3-10 hours. This is the most commonly installed home charger.
4. Level III or IV or “DC-Fast” Charger. Not often installed in homes, a DC Fast Charger will usually fully charge your car in less than an hour.

The remainder of this discussion will assume a Level II charger.

Buying your Level II charger:

• Many of these can be installed indoors or outdoors. Check that before buying.
• Make sure the charger has the right connector for your car.
• Some Level II Chargers are eligible for a NJ State incentive. (As of 8/2023, this does not include the Tesla “Wall Connector”).
• The NJ It-pays-to-plug-in program provides incentives for chargers at multi-unit residences and commercial buildings. 
• There is a federal incentive for EV Chargers, but it only applies in poverty areas and is unlikely to apply in Madison. 

Installing your Level II charger:

• Many of these can be installed indoors or outdoors. Decide what is best for you.
• Installation should be done by a licensed electrician.
• In Madison a building permit is required for a charger installation.
• Some Level II Chargers are eligible for a NJ State incentive. (As of 8/2023, this does not include the Tesla “Wall Connector”).
• There is a federal incentive for EV Chargers, but it only applies in poverty areas and is unlikely to apply in Madison. 

Using your Level II charger:

• Use your charger in accordance with instructions accompanying your car
• Madison is currently evaluating “Time-of-Use” (TOU) electric rates. If these are implemented it will be less expensive to use your home charger at “off-peak” time periods. These will be announced by the Borough when TOU rates are implemented.

Bring Clean Energy Home!

Make a Plan with Madison's Clean Energy Coaches.

 Are you considering:

• Buying an electric vehicle (EV)?
• Installing Residential Solar?
• Getting a new Heating/Cooling system?
• Making Energy Efficiency Improvements to your Home?

A group of volunteer area residents who have made clean energy part of their homes are ready to talk to you and answer questions about their experience. They are not energy professionals, installers, or subject-matter experts, just residents who have experience.

Write to northjerseygreen@gmail.com and let us know what you are interested in, and you will be put in touch with a coach.

Volunteer Coaches

If you have recent experience with clean energy initiatives and are willing to talk to other residents, please write to northjerseygreen@gmail.com, and we will put your name on the list.

The NJ Electric Vehicle Law (Public Law 2021, c. 171,), was signed by Governor Murphy in July of 2021. It sets requirements for Electric Vehicle (EV) Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) and Make-Ready parking spaces in new multi-family and commercial developments. 

Model Statewide Municipal EV Ordinance, much of which is mandatory, was created to provide guidance for P.L. 2021, c. 171. 

Madison Ordinance 42-2021 was enacted to locally implement P.L. 2021, c. 171 by following the Statewide Model Ordinance. It sets requirements for:

• Numbers of EVSE units at new multi-unit residences and commercial parking lots
• Numbers of Make-Ready parking spaces at new multi-unit residences and commercial parking lots
• Requirements for EVSE at handicapped parking spaces
• Construction Permitting Requirements for EVSE
• Construction Standards for EVSE and Make-Ready Parking spaces
• Signage and street-marking requirements for EVSE and Make-Ready Parking Spaces

Incentives and Subsidies for the purchase and installation of EVSE are available through various federal and state programs. These programs open and close as funding becomes available. Refer to the tab on Federal and State Incentives for guidance on finding current funding opportunities.

Hybrid police Cars

Madison began electrifying its municipal fleet in 2020 when it received the first two of its (currently) six Ford hybrid Police Interceptor patrol cars. Internal combustion police cars generally have a very low mpg because of all the idling they need to do. Analysis of the first two years of operation of the hybrid police cars showed that their mpg was double that of the earlier cars. The savings in fuel paid for the extra cost of the vehicles within three years of their purchase.

The NJ Electric Vehicle Law (Public Law 2021, c. 171), signed by Governor Murphy in July of 2021, states that 25% of State-Owned Non-Emergency Light Duty Vehicles shall be Plug-In EVs (PEV) by 2025, 100% by 2035.

The goal for Madison’s municipal fleet, approved by the council in 2023, was that 25% of non-emergency light-duty vehicle mileage be completed with PEVs by 2025 to align with the state goal. In 2023 it was agreed with the department heads that the recommendation to achieve this goal would be to stop buying new gas-powered vehicles and to replace existing vehicles at the end of their service life with PEVs when appropriate PEVs are available.

Progress and Plans

By the end of 2022 the Borough had purchased two Chevrolet Bolt EVs (pictured above) for Parking Enforcement and for the Buildings Department. These will account for 9% of the 25% goal discussed above. A third Bolt was purchased in 2023. Each of these Bolt EVs saves the Borough approximately $3000 each year in fuel costs.

Key light-duty vehicles that may be soon replaced and which will help meet the 2025 goal are several Ford Escapes and the aging Senior Center Bus.