Home > News > September-October 2018 Big Island EV Association Updates

In this update – Tesla $7500 Tax Credit, Climate Crisis, and Meet-Ups!

Tesla $7500 Tax Credit Update

If you’re seriously considering making a purchase of a Tesla Model S, Model X, or Model 3, you apparently have until tomorrow, October 15, to take delivery before the end of the year and take advantage of the $7500 tax credit. The credit is reduced to $3750 for cars received by June 30, 2019, and $1875 for cars delivered by December 31, 2019. For more information on the incentives, go to Tesla’s incentives page.

Reminder – if you’re ordering a Tesla (any model), be sure to add a Tesla referral code to your order so that you can take advantage of available incentives. You can get a referral code from any Tesla owner. (Mine is http://ts.la/stephanie4386.) Referrers also get gifts and other incentives – the latest is the opportunity to get a laser-etched glass photo into space. I’d like to get the BIEVA logo in space!

If you’ve already placed an order but have not received it, write or call your Tesla sales contact and ask for the referral code to be added. This has successfully been done.

Our Climate Crisis

On October 8, 2018, the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report that made our climate crisis even more urgent. The gist of the report is that we have a little over a decade to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius/2.7 degrees Fahrenheit rise). Two degrees Celsius is the goal that was set at the Paris Climate Agreement but the IPCC report warns that beyond 1.5 degrees C, we will see escalated environmental insults – droughts, temperature extremes, flooding,… – and significant impact to millions.

Extreme weather events have visited many parts of our globe this year and they’ve become increasingly devastating, unpredictable, and (unfortunately) common. I hesitate to imagine the worst-case scenario and its impact to humanity.

Based on the media reports from across the globe, governments and the general public are paying attention to the urgency. This is very positive. However, we must not be complacent and fatalistic. This is especially so in our country where not enough attention is paid to this matter and the media seems to be distracted by more sensational events.

Much more must be done to shift consumption away from products and services that contribute to the climate crisis – those that contribute to CO2, methane, N2O. This can all be daunting but with everyone pitching in – teaching others about what can be done and ‘walking the talk’ (driving electric, ride sharing, car pooling, walking, conserving energy, installing roof top solar, buying local, supporting the initiatives like the Carbon Fee and Dividend, etc…), we WILL make a difference.

Related Reading:

Meet-Ups!

Monthly meet-ups are a great way to for BIEVA members to share their experiences and collaborate on matters related to sustainability.  It is a great opportunity to help would-be EV owners get their questions addressed and get behind the wheel of one!

Upcoming Events

Recent Events

National Drive Electric Week (NDEW)

This year’s NDEW events were held in Waimea at the KTA Superstore and in Hilo at The Home Depot. Many of our members joined the events and helped us participate in this nation-wide celebration of sustainable transportation. To view details and images from the events, visit the following pages:

October 6 Coffee and EV Meet-up at Hilo Coffee Mill

This venue was recommended by Julie G., BIEVA member and Tesla Model X owner. The location was perfect for a Coffee and EV meet-up – our cars were under huge, solar panel covered canopy and there was a farmer’s market, live music, and excellent coffee at their cafe.

The property owner is contemplating the installation of a level 2 charging station at this venue. If you know of someone who can assist with the installation, please reach out to me.

Images from the event

Recent Posts

-Noel Morin