electric vehicle Archives - Sustainable Saratoga

Press Release: EV Car Show 2025

Caroline Rothaug — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:50:45 +0000

PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release 8/28/25

Sustainable Saratoga and Hudson Valley Community College North Host Going Electric: The EV Car Show, on Saturday, September 13th, 2025

Media Contact: Beth Plummer; beth@sustainablesaratoga.org

Saratoga Springs, NY – Interested in going electric? Explore the future of transportation at Going Electric: The EV Car Show, hosted by Sustainable Saratoga and Hudson Valley Community College North.

EV Car Show details

Date/time: Saturday September 13th from 10am-2pm
Location: TEC-SMART at HVCC North, 345 Hermes Road in Malta

Whether you’re an EV owner, enthusiast or just curious about sustainable technology, this FREE event has something for all.

A wide variety of EV cars on display
Informational tables staffed by EV industry vendors
Guided tours of the LEED-certified HVCC North building
Resources on sustainability, clean energy, and more

David Washburn, Chair of the Climate & Energy Committee at Sustainable Saratoga, says, “We’re excited to partner with HVCC North on this first-ever EV Car Show event. In the past, the EV Car Show was part of our Sustainability Fair in April, but advancements in technology and community interest have warranted this becoming its own event. And our partnership with HVCC North at their Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies (TEC-SMART) is a natural fit.”

“By showcasing electric vehicles and clean technologies at the EV Car Show, we’re empowering our students and community to envision a greener future,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Dr. Michael Brophy. “As the EV industry grows and the need for technicians continues to rise, Hudson Valley is proud to offer Electric and Autonomous Vehicles degree and certificate programs that prepare our students with the skills needed to diagnose and repair electric and hybrid vehicles. We highly value our partnership with Sustainable Saratoga and are thrilled to host this event together at HVCC North – Hudson Valley’s branch campus.”

This local event coincides with National Drive Electric Month, a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles and more. For more information, visit: https://driveelectricmonth.org

Local EV owners are invited to sign up to show their own cars at the show. To register and sign up, visit: https://forms.gle/66BNz9fE9d3DEDALA

For more information on the EV Car Show, and to register for the event, visit: https://www.hvcc.edu/events/2025/09/ev-car-show-at-hvcc-north.html

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS

About Hudson Valley Community College:

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College is the largest community college in upstate New York and offers more than 85 degree and certificate programs in three schools: Business and Liberal Arts; Health Sciences; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); and also administers the Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training at no cost to those who qualify. One of 30 community colleges in the SUNY system, Hudson Valley enrolls more than 20,000 students in credit and non-credit courses and is a recognized leader in distance learning and workforce development. The college has more than 90,000 alumni. To learn more, please visit www.hvcc.edu.

About Sustainable Saratoga:

Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices and the protection of natural resources, through education, advocacy and action, for the benefit of current and future generations in the Saratoga Springs area. Since 2008, Sustainable Saratoga has been a leader in promoting awareness of environmental issues and what we as a local community can do to minimize our ecological impact while maintaining a high quality of life.

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There’s Never Been a Better Time to Buy an EV

Candice Bergmann — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:07:37 +0000

One of the biggest contributors to one’s carbon footprint is transportation—specifically, gas-powered vehicles. Your mileage will vary, so to speak, but according to the EPA, a typical passenger car emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, producing about 404 grams of CO2 per mile. In New York State alone—according to the state’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report—vehicle fuel combustion accounts for 19% of the state’s greenhouse gas
emissions.

The good news is that there are increasingly practical alternatives to gasoline-powered vehicles
that not only reduce carbon emissions, but are actually less expensive to operate in general. As
of this writing in March 2024, the national average price for gas is $3.39, and while that’s
certainly well below the $4.48 it hit two years ago, gas remains a not inconsequential cost for
many individuals and families. An alternative to a gasoline-powered car is an electric vehicle
(EV), which run on batteries rather than gas. EVs can be 50–70% less expensive to drive per mile
than gas-powered vehicles and generate far fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

The argument has been made that, since electricity itself is produced using fossil fuels, won’t an
increase in EVs on the road increase the demand for electricity and thus the greenhouse gas
emissions produced by power plants? Not really, no: at least in New York State, electricity is
generated in part using “clean” sources, so the greenhouse gas emission problem isn’t simply
being shifted elsewhere. And as the grid gradually comes to include more renewable energy
options, this issue will become less of a problem in the future.

Another concern vis-à-vis EVs is a practical one: are there enough charging stations to
accommodate more EVs on the road? There is good news on this front as well. Charge NY is an
initiative born of a collaboration among the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA), the New York Power Authority, and New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation that uses a combination of education, research, consumer
outreach, and financial support for the installation of charging stations across New York
to—quite simply—get more EVs on the road. Part of their mission is to accommodate one
million plug-in electric vehicles by 2025.

At the same time, the New York Power Authority is dedicating $250 million to its EVolve NY
program, the goal of which is “making electric vehicles easy to own in New York State and
decarbonizing the state’s transportation sector.” Amongst their initiatives is the installation of
“fast charging” stations, and they plan to have at least 800 installed by the end of 2025. As they
say, “Our fast chargers will be located along major state highway corridors, usually within five
minutes of the roadway exit, and will be compatible for all types of current EV models.” (In a
nutshell, “fast charging” uses DC power rather than AC and can charge most passenger EVs up
to 80% in as fast as 15 minutes, but, again, your mileage will vary.)

NYSERDA’s Drive Clean Rebate provides up to $2,000 in financial incentives to promote the
purchase or lease of EVs. Income qualifying households can also take advantage of a federal
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit applied at the point of sale of up to $7,500 for a new EV
or up to $4,000 for a used EV purchased from a licensed dealer. Federal IRA credits and state
Drive Clean Rebates may be combined for a total discount of $9500 on the purchase of certain

EV models. In addition, car dealers may pass along federal credits to reduce the cost of leasing
an EV. Car dealerships can help you navigate these incentives.

And what’s more, the Thruway Authority’s Green Discount Plan offers qualified EV owners a
special EZ Pass “green tag” that takes 10% off Thruway tolls.

Confused About EV Options?
NYSERDA has a variety of calculators and comparison tools available for you to choose an EV
based on your own driving habits and lifestyle.

While there are many financial incentives to switching to electric vehicles, we shouldn’t lose
sight of the fact that EVs dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping us reduce our
overall carbon footprint. It is essentially a win-win scenario, for our budgets and for the planet.

Interested in a hands-on experience? Watch for an upcoming EV Car Show co-hosted by
Sustainable Saratoga in 2025.

Quick links:
CURE100
EPA on vehicle GHG emissions
NYS Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report
Charge NY
EvolveNY
NYSERDA Drive Clean Rebate
IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credits
IRS Used Clean Vehicle Credit
NYSERDA Inflation Reduction Act & Drive Clean Rebate Vehicles
Consumer Reports: Everything You Need to Know About Leasing an EV or PHEV With a Tax
Credit
NYS Thruway Green Discount Plan
NYSERDA Electric Vehicle Calculator

Written by Richard Romano, Sustainable Saratoga Secretary

The post There’s Never Been a Better Time to Buy an EV appeared first on Sustainable Saratoga.

Press Release: Sustainable Saratoga and Skidmore College Seek 2024 Sustainability Fair Exhibitors

Caroline Rothaug — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 19:02:10 +0000

PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release

Sustainable Saratoga and Skidmore College Seek 2024 Sustainability Fair Exhibitors

Media Contact: Caroline Rothaug (caroline@sustainablesaratoga.org)

Saratoga Springs, NY – Sustainable Saratoga and Skidmore College invite sustainability-minded for-profit businesses and non-profit community organizations to apply to be exhibitors at the third annual Saratoga Sustainability Fair.

Event: Saratoga Sustainability Fair

Date/time: Saturday, April 13, 10am – 3pm

Location: Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY

Sustainable Saratoga and Skidmore College are partnering once again to host the 2024 Saratoga Sustainability Fair. Kelsey Trudell, Sustainable Saratoga’s Executive Director, explains “The Saratoga Sustainability Fair is an exciting opportunity for community members to discuss sustainability, connect with local sustainable businesses and organizations, and learn about innovative climate solutions and ways to get involved. Planning is underway for the 2024 Sustainability Fair and we have now opened the call for vendors to table in the exhibit hall.”

To apply for your non-profit organization or for-profit sustainable business to participate in the exhibit hall visit https://sustainablesaratoga.org/projects/saratoga-sustainability-fair/.

This family friendly event is packed with even more offerings:

An expanded kids’ area with hands-on STEM activities.
Two panel discussions with local experts.
Electric Car and Bike show.
Exhibit Hall with tables in energy, climate, equity, environmental education, and social justice.

Interested in sponsoring the event? Contact kelsey@sustainablesaratoga.org.

Sustainability Fair vendors offering resources to attendees

About Skidmore College

Founded in 1903, Skidmore College is a highly selective private, coeducational liberal arts college of about 2,600 students. Skidmore is consistently named one of the “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report and has recently been recognized as one of “America’s Most Entrepreneurial Colleges” by Forbes, a “Top College Value” by Kiplinger and one of “The Best 388 Colleges” by The Princeton Review. Travel and Leisure has also called Saratoga Springs, home to Skidmore’s campus, one of “America’s Best College Towns.”

About Sustainable Saratoga

Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable practices and the protection of natural resources through education, advocacy and action, for the benefit of current and future generations in the Saratoga Springs area. Since 2008, Sustainable Saratoga has been a leader in promoting awareness of environmental issues and what we as a community can do to minimize our ecological impact while maintaining a high quality of life. To learn more about Sustainable Saratoga, visit: https://www.sustainablesaratoga.org/

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