Three local charities — Interfaith Community Services, Primavera Foundation, and Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona — are driving electric thanks to a Tucson Electric Power program.
Our Nonprofit Transportation Electrification Pilot provided significant rebates for electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers to groups serving low-income residents, seniors, and job training participants. Through a competitive application process, the nonprofit groups were selected in the spring and acquired their EVs and chargers in September.
“It’s a real source of pride for us to have electric vehicles,” said L’Don Sawyer, Mobile Meals’ Chief Executive Officer. “It really shows Mobile Meals as being a responsible partner to the environment.”
The program was designed to help promote transportation electrification, a sustainable option that can save on fuel costs, freeing up funds to support clients.
TEP partnered with O’Rielly Chevrolet, which sold Chevrolet Blazer EVs at no markup to the awardees. The program provided rebates up to $45,000 for the purchase of the vehicles, covering most of the cost. For chargers, TEP’s rebates cover 95 percent of the cost.
“We feel very fortunate to have been able to partner with TEP on this pilot by putting local nonprofits behind the wheel of brand-new Chevy Blazer EVs,” said Rob Draper of O’Rielly. “Chevrolet is heavily committed to electric vehicles as the automotive future, and we at O’Rielly are excited to be able to work with TEP to help introduce them to the local market now.”
Primavera Foundation purchased two Blazer EVs, while Mobile Meals and Interfaith Community Services each acquired one, along with chargers to power them.
“Ensuring the benefits of electrification are accessible for all customers is a key part of our strategy,” said Gabriella Abou-Zeid, TEP’s Customer Energy Optimization Program Manager.
Mobile Meals is using its EV to deliver meals to individuals and organizations serving low-income and unhoused residents. The group already had experience with EVs, having replaced a costly diesel truck with an electric cargo van last year through a Del Webb Foundation grant.
“I think all of us are sold on EVs because of that. The diesel truck was so costly to drive and it was in constant need of repair. It was really hurting us,” Sawyer said. “When we saw TEP’s pilot was happening, it just seemed like a real natural fit to apply for it. We were also very excited about having a charging station.” Hear more from her here.
In addition to the nonprofit pilot program, TEP offers discounts and rebates to both residential and business customers on EV chargers. TEP is also promoting services to businesses that are interested in converting their fleets to electric vehicles.
