New Colorado incentive to use EVs
One of 151 laws going into effect, it will allow smaller and slower electric car brands on more state roads. It aims to reduce gasoline consumption and pollution.
The law allows electric cars on state highways with speed limits of 35 mph or less and to cross state highways with higher speed limits. Currently, the vehicles are banned from all state highways and from crossing them because they're too slow.
Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass Village, sponsored the legislation in the Senate. She said demand for fuel-efficient cars vehicles will increase despite fluctuations in fuel prices.
"Sooner or later, gas prices will go up and people will want more fuel-efficient cars," Schwartz said.
Schwartz noted citizens in Snowmass Village use the vehicles to run errands and take children to school. She hopes more households will buy the cars, which start at $9,000, instead of a traditional second car.
One new law creates a state loan program to help schools pay for renewable energy projects and hybrid and electric buses. Another gives more protection to bicyclists by requiring motorists to give them at least a 3-foot berth when passing.
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The scheme is one of the casualties of a budget crisis caused by a shock constitutional court ruling in November that upended the government's spending plans.
The economy ministry said Saturday that Sunday would be the last day prospective buyers could apply for the scheme, which paid out thousands of euros per customer to partially cover the cost of buying an electric car.
A spokesman for the ministry admitted it was an "unfortunate situation" for consumers who…