Beneficial electrification is a new term in the electric industry. It refers to the replacement of direct fossil fuel use (e.g., propane, heating oil, gasoline) with electricity in a way that reduces overall emissions and energy costs. While there are many such opportunities within a home or business, I think electric vehicles are gradually moving to the top of the beneficial electrification list.
At Cherryland, we have had an all-electric Chevrolet Bolt in our vehicle pool for a couple of years now. Recently, with the retirement of an aging gas-powered vehicle, we decided to put the Bolt into regular daily use by assigning it to the Members Services Department.
To replace the Bolt in our vehicle pool, we looked at other available electric vehicles (EVs) and found that the Tesla Model 3 was within our budget parameters. So, we leased an all-wheel-drive version with a long-range (400+ miles) battery system.
While Tesla doesn’t produce cars in Michigan, its vehicles are built in the United States. Tesla models are also at the top of the list when it comes to the EVs our members are asking about. Having one in our vehicle pool, which is utilized by many employees, will be a great way to answer these questions with firsthand experience in all types of weather conditions.
Our longest trips for meetings and legislative issues take us to Lansing and Grand Rapids. Tesla has a charging infrastructure that will allow us to use the car without a worry of where we can charge it. The statewide charging infrastructure for the Chevrolet Bolt is still a work in progress, which makes it better suited to local daily driving.
You will soon see the car out and about, wrapped in Cherryland red. We will be loud and proud as we attempt to generate conversation about and interest in the coming generations of EVs from all manufacturers.
After the obvious environmental benefits of driving without fossil fuels and being a go-to resource on new technology, our goal at your cooperative is also to increase our energy sales. When sales go up, we have more kilowatt-hours to spread our costs over. This helps keep costs down for every member. As an added bonus, Cherryland’s electricity is 62% carbon-free. This means charging your EV can improve the air quality, while the added meter spin also helps keep prices stable.
EV options will continue to grow. In coming years, you will see more and more of them in the fleet of red vehicles running around our service territory. We may be on the very early end of this new era, but we are going to embrace the change and help lead the way for as long as it takes. I am hopeful that by doubling the EVs in our fleet today, it will open the door for more members to have an all-electric mindset in their homes and garages.
Win, win, win! Thanks for sharing this story of all around good news for everyone.
Where are warranty repairs or general service activities conducted? Don’t think it would work well in IsabelSouth Dakota in the winter.
Warranty work will have to be done in GR or by a traveling mechanic (I believe there is one available). General service can be done by Cherryland personnel. I know – not every member has this luxury. It is simply part of the learning process. Over the 3 year lease, we will see how much repair and maintenance is needed and report this out to our members. EVs are an evolving technology and our goal is to simply help our members make the best choice for their situation. You and I know better than most what it’s like in Isabel, South Dakota in the winter time. Fortunately, we live in Northern Michigan and not northern South Dakota! (by choice I might add) Have a great week Al.
Thanks for making Cherryland a progressive, pro environmental company as much as possible.
Next step is to lobby the state to eliminate the added registration costs it imposes on hybrid/ electric vehicles.
Once again- Tony great move on getting this car!
After decades of bad-mouthing alternative energies and touting the many virtues of coal (check your back issues of Country Lines) I’d hardly say that Cherryland and/ or Wolverine are progressive, pro environmental companies. Coal was “affordable” at least in the short term and that was the main selling point. Solar and wind were neither reliable nor affordable according to Cherryland Electric. What makes a Tesla “affordable” and reliable? Please keep us updated.
Bad mouthing is a strong statement. We will have to agree to disagree on that one. I stand by my long record on the environment and take pride in the fact that we have achieved a portfolio of power that is 62% carbon free while returning over $23 million in capital credits back to our members. Progressive can mean whatever you like. All I know is that the Wolverine cooperative members are the only utility customers in the state of Michigan that have a 62% carbon free portfolio. While other utilities talk about 2040 goals, we have present day accomplishments. If you have been following regularly over the years, you would know that we have found some wind projects that are affordable and have subsidized some solar to give that technology a fighting chance. Nobody can make a case that wind in Michigan produces energy more than 60% of the time and solar is far worse at less than 25% on a calendar basis. So, yes, these technologies are not 100% reliable and will be forever backed up by nuclear, coal or natural gas in order to keep lights on 24/7/365. The Tesla is a learning experiment to see how an all wheel drive EV can operate in the northern climate. What makes it affordable is the fact that Cherryland rates are stable. We have had one rate increase in the last 7 years along with the money that has been returned to our members. Is the Tesla reliable? What I read says that it is. We will get some first hand knowledge and report back as time goes by.
Great Explanation Tony. I like your investigation of the feasibility of using electric vehicles in Northern Michigan to see what works and what doesn’t. I think Cherryland is practicing what it preaches! Keep up the good work.
This is great news! Great to see Cherryland continue to put their money where their mouth is. It sets a great example for consumers as well.
You may want to double check the range estimate listed in this article, as the LR AWD version of the Model 3 is currently rated for 322 miles. I believe that was actually an increase from the initial 310 miles of range achieved via software optimization. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Tesla led the EV revolution. But it survives as the darling of Wall Street. Soon there will be many EV choices and I look forward to your comparative analysis.
How is replacing a gas powered car with a coal powered one helping? I am dismayed you would spend my money so stupidly and thoughtlessly.
We must remember that Cherryland’s portfolio of wholesale power is 62% carbon free. No other utility in the state is at this level. A Tesla plugged in on the Cherryland distribution system is using a very small amount of coal and a very large amount of clean (zero carbon) energy. Therefore, I believe every EV is a win-win for the utility and the environment.
To all,
I have heard that Tesla has been involved in a recall – safety. Would you please investigate and if possible reschedule the delivery please? BTW I appreciate the investigation regarding Tesla and NOT the decision based on Electric Vehicles.
Regards and keep up the GREAT work you are doing Tony with Cherryland.
I will check into the recall and post a response here if I find anything.
There are no current recalls on the Tesla Model 3 which is the model we are driving right now. At Cars.com, you can find all the recalls from the past on any age or model you like. We do get regular firmware updates similar to the updates one gets on their smartphone. Thus, as of today, there are zero safety recall issues with the Tesla Model 3.
My wife and I just left Interlochen after 26 years, and for two and a half years, I ran an all-electric Nissan Leaf, charging at home off Cherryland (we obtained 3 solar panels through Cherryland to put our money where our mouth was as well), and also charging at the parking deck in TC. I put over 37,000 miles on that little red Nissan Leaf in that time. For two years, my wife also ran a Chevy Volt partly-electric, in fact, virtually all of it was charged on Cherryland electricity. We’ve now moved outside the Cherryland Electric Co-Op area, which I’m honestly sad about. You’ve given us excellent service over decades.
I would call our ‘experiment’ as success though I can definitely see how a longer range EV would be more useful (my leaf is rated at 84 miles per range). The facts of life for EV’s means winter range is cut in half (at least for me it was), so a 320 mile car would still probably have 160 mile range. Fast chargers would be a huge benefit to EV cars, Cherryland. You’ll need to invest in at least two styles, one CHAdeMO, the other SAEJ1772 Combo. Tesla’s charging systems are done by themselves.
Interestingly, any Tesla can be charged on virtually any other charger type with adapters, but no non-Tesla vehicles can be charged on Tesla’s chargers.
I had the privilege of test driving the Tesla model X dual motor this past from the boat house on Old Mission. After talking to Tesla people at this years picnic and at the Grand traverse resort the previous year. It is a very responsive and powerful quality car. I’m waiting to see what the pickup lineup will be since we have a small Travel trailer to pull, which the model x can handle. I t is great to see CEC on the cutting edge of market of EV’s
Glad to hear Cherryland’s willing to be innovative when it comes to new, efficient technologies. Hope the Tesla Model 3 works out.
Please define ”carbon free’, including how much energy get from each source.
Are you using offsets?
62% carbon free is 19% hydro, solar and wind (probably 18% wind) while the rest is a nuclear market contract. We have zero offsets and have never used offsets in our portfolio.