Workshop for Law Enforcement Addresses Electric Bicycle and Scooter Use

Electric bicycles and scooters have grown in popularity and can offer an affordable transportation option. With speeds varying between 20-28 mph, these devices can often travel as fast as other vehicles on the road. So, how can municipalities and local law enforcement balance mobility and safety? This was the focus of an “E-Mobility Insights for Law Enforcement” workshop hosted on February 6, 2024 by goHunterdon.  Continue reading “Workshop for Law Enforcement Addresses Electric Bicycle and Scooter Use”

Hunterdon County First Responders Learn About Electric Vehicles

Hunterdon County First Responders Learn About Electric Vehicles

Emergency personnel from across Hunterdon County participated in a First Responders Electric Vehicle (EV) training on July 8, 2023 at the Hunterdon County Emergency Services Training Center in Annandale. Mike Hornsby, a firefighter from Princeton Junction, and a member of the New Jersey Electric Vehicle Association, taught responders about the differences between electric vehicle and internal combustion engine vehicle chassis, how to identify high voltage cut-off locations in various EV models, and best practices for fire suppression.

This training, coordinated by the Clinton Township Green Team, with support from goHunterdon and the NJ Electric Vehicle Association, included a display of a variety of electric vehicles, offering first responders with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various vehicles~ Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-e, Hummer EV, Volkswagen e-Golf, Volkswagen ID.4, Polestar 2 Lucid Air, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6. The electric vehicles on display included models owned by local EV owners and from local dealers Ciocca Ford of Flemington, Ciocca Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Flemington, and Ciocca Volkswagen of Flemington.

Attendees included First Responders from the Amwell Valley Fire Company (East Amwell), Town of Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Township Division of Fire, Hunterdon County Department of Public Safety, Hunterdon County Hazardous Material Response Unit, Kingwood Fire Company, Raritan Township Fire Company, South Branch Emergency Services (Town of Clinton, Clinton Twp, Lebanon Borough, Glen Gardner, High Bridge, Hampton), Tewksbury Rescue Squad, West Amwell Fire Company, Milford Fire Company, High Bridge Fire Department, Town of Clinton Police Department, Readington Township Fire Company, Whitehouse Rescue Squad (Readington Twp), Pattenburg Rescue Squad, and Holland Twp Fire Company.

For more information about electric vehicles in Hunterdon County, contact Margret Thompson, Sustainable Hunterdon Coordinator, mthompson@gohunterdon.org

Municipal Officials Charged Up by Electric Vehicle “Breakfast Talk”

Municipal Officials Charged Up by Electric Vehicle “Breakfast Talk”

goHunterdon and the Hunterdon County Department of Planning and Land Use hosted a virtual “Breakfast Talk” on New Jersey’s Model Statewide Electric Vehicle (EV) Municipal Ordinance on March 11, 2022. Approximately 48 local municipal representatives participated in the session which was held via Zoom.

Panelists included Maria G. Connolly, PP, AICP, Local Planning Services, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Mark Warner, ChargeEVC, Cathleen Lewis, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Andrea Friedman, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and Joe Lustig, Raritan Township Environmental Commission.

“The virtual ‘Breakfast Talk’ format is a great way to share useful, timely information about topics of concern with our municipal partners,” said Carrie Fellows, Director of the Department of Planning & Land Use. “We’re delighted to partner with goHunterdon for this program on the new EV Ordinance, and bring this panel of experts to a Hunterdon County audience.”

The Model Statewide Municipal Electric Vehicle (EV) Ordinance was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy in July 2021 and published by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs on September 1, 2021. The law requires that Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment (EVSE) and Make-Ready parking spaces be designated as a permitted accessory use in all zoning or use districts and establishes associated installation and parking requirements related to EVSE in New Jersey’s 565 municipalities.

The intent of the model statewide ordinance is to ensure that municipalities are requiring installation of EVSE and Make-Ready parking spaces in a consistent manner and also to provide an ordinance that can be easily used by every municipality with no or minimal amendments by the municipality.

The model statewide ordinance is mandatory and is in effect for all municipalities. Municipalities are allowed to make changes to the “Reasonable Standards” portion of the ordinance through the normal ordinance amendment process, but may not change the parts of the ordinance that were required by the legislation (installation and parking requirements). For municipalities with existing EV ordinances, the statewide ordinance supersedes those requirements.

A recording of the March 11 session is available on goHunterdon’s YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/GdbPTmdPN-Y

Students to Complete in Electric Vehicle Challenge

Students to Complete in Electric Vehicle Challenge

goHunterdon’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge program engages Hunterdon students in grades 6-8 to learn about alternative energy and electric vehicles by designing, building, and racing electrically powered model cars.  Students learn about the environmental impacts of fossil fuels and how electric vehicles offer an alternative to the traditional combustion engine used in many cars.

More than 440 students at nine (9) Hunterdon schools (Kingwood Township School, East Amwell Township School, Woodglen School, Alexandria Middle School, Immaculate Conception School, High Bridge Middle School, Reading Fleming Intermediate School, Franklin Township School, and Readington Middle School) are participating in the program this school year. Lessons on greenhouse gases, vehicle emission, and climate change are interspersed with lessons on design, engineering, gear ratios, and prototype building.

Students have been tasked with transforming a few components including a motor, wheels, axles, and a battery pack into a unique and functioning model race car. Beyond these materials, students may use anything they like to build their vehicle. The only two required materials that must be used are the battery pack and motor; everything else is fair game.

Student teams from several participating schools will convene for a countywide race in May to determine the fastest electrically powered model vehicle.

The Hunterdon Electric Vehicle Challenge is made possible with the financial support of sponsors 3M, Green Power Energy, and ExxonMobil Research & Engineering.

For more information on the EV Challenge: https://www.gohunterdon.org/sustainable-hunterdon/ev-challenge

Breakfast Talk Will Focus on Model Electric Vehicle Ordinance

goHunterdon and the Hunterdon County Department of Planning and Land Use will host a virtual “Breakfast Talk” on New Jersey’s Model Statewide Electric Vehicle (EV) Municipal Ordinance and how Hunterdon municipalities can promote electric vehicle adoption.   The session will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 9 a.m. via Zoom. Continue reading “Breakfast Talk Will Focus on Model Electric Vehicle Ordinance”