It has been just 13 years since the debut of the documentary film, Who Killed The Electric Car, which told a story of early Electric Car (EV) innovation by General Motors and its subsequent demise, primarily due to special interest group lobbying and the manufacturer's concern at a lack of potential profit.

Today, over one million EV's are driven in the United States with estimates that by 2030, that figure will have increased almost 20 fold.

Many hurdles have had to be overcome, and still, exist, in order to truly establish the EV as every day, viable alternative to the gasoline powered vehicle. General affordability is coming down, as economies of scale reduce unit prices, however, EV's are still considered in general to be a luxury purchase. That will change as long as battery cost continues the steep cost per unit decrease it has seen over the last few years (79% since 2010) and more manufacturers introduce increased numbers of everyday models to the market.

However, it is the concept of 'range anxiety' which instills fear into EV owners, a fear which will only be alleviated through a combination of increased vehicle range (i.e. technological advances) and an uninterrupted nationwide charging station network.

The Town of Middleburg has recognized the importance of providing an EV charging solution for its visitors and residents alike. Its Go Green Committee has spent the past year researching and analyzing the various options which exist today. Those include a potential 'free station' option, offered by Electrify America, which was formed following the Volkswagen Diesel emissions scandal and funded by part of the multi-billion dollar fine imposed on that company to create an EV charging network, and a five-year lease program with industry leader, ChargePoint.

Fulfilling the goal of establishing a dual port charging station in Middleburg will help to attract more shoppers and diners - an important element of economic development, however, it will also be another achievement for the town's environmental and sustainability mission, spearheaded by Go Green. As a Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) gold level town, we strive to find solutions which enhance the health and wellness of our citizens, staff, and visitors. Zero emission vehicles clearly do not emit harmful, toxic gases into the immediate environment, contributing to better health.

The greater argument may be about how the electricity used to charge these EV's is produced in the first place. Being on the Dominion Energy grid, we know that 70% of our electricity is produced by natural gas and nuclear power, while 13% is derived from coal, so arguably an EV charged in Middleburg is, in fact, responsible for an amount of fossil fuel emission, but we are moving in the right direction.

There are EV owners in the Middleburg area who have invested in solar panels and EV charging infrastructure who, as a result, truly are charging their vehicles using all renewable energy.

Rome wasn't built in a day, so pragmatically, and despite big government efforts to stifle the clean air movement, there's no turning back on this road to zero emissions. Kudos to all those who had the passion and drive to get us this far.