Michigan Approves Electric Vehicle Charging Rates
By Chris Weiss
Consumers have undoubtedly been itching to get a more concrete idea of what electric vehicles will cost to ‘fuel’–particularly with manufacturer’s guidelines coming in as ridiculously inflated as 367 mpg. Well, Michigan residents now have a look at the costs of electric fueling thanks to a newly approved proposal from Detroit Edison.
The utility’s vehicle charging system includes two options for consumers: a $40/month/vehicle flat fee and a low rate for off-peak charging. Peak hours are defined as falling between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m on weekdays.
The Michigan Public Service Commission approved Detroit Edison’s plan yesterday, making it the first company in Michigan to develop a plan for EV charging.
The rate system is designed as an experiment to run through 2012. Most customers will need to equip their homes with a second meter, to be dedicated specifically to vehicle charging. Detroit Edison will offer up to $2,500 of funding per home to deter costs of the system.
You can compare the EV rate with your car’s average monthly fuel costs using Edmunds numbers. [via MPSC]
