The county has launched the region’s first Electric Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative, a pilot program to encourage residents and businesses to buy EVs, as well as help the county reach its goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 and a 100 percent reduction by 2035.
The initiative includes a challenge from County Executive Marc Elrich for 1,000 residents and 50 businesses to sign an online pledge to make their next vehicle purchase an EV.
“Community members and businesses who take the pledge to make their next vehicle electric will help demonstrate consumer demand for electric vehicles in Montgomery County,” Elrich said in a press release. “We are working to get more people into electric vehicles by making the purchasing process easier. It’s going to take all of us doing our part to realize a cleaner future for our community.”
The pilot phase of the program is scheduled to run from January through May 2022, officials said.
“The co-op members and partners will seek to educate residents and businesses and negotiate favorable pricing for EV purchases and leases on behalf of those who have taken the pledge,” according to the release.
The pilot program also will include information resources for consumers and dealerships, as well as a program to offer EV training to dealership sales teams.
More information and the pledge is available on the cooperative’s website.
Montgomery County graphic