• EVs have lower maintenance costs. There are no oil changes, fewer parts to replace and repair than their gas/diesel counterparts, and regenerative braking that helps brakes last longer.
• It is cheaper to fuel an EV than a gas/diesel vehicle. In fact, Washington state has the greatest EV “fill-up savings” in the whole country.
• EVs do not produce tailpipe emissions, which helps local air quality and public health.
• Even when including the emissions related to manufacturing EVs, EVs produce lower CO2 emissions over their lifetime compared to gasoline and diesel vehicles.
• You will never spill fuel or motor oil from an EV since it uses neither substance. This is better for local water quality.
• And lastly, because there are so many models to choose from, you may simply just like an EV more than a fossil fueled vehicle.

Did you know that the sale/purchase of EVs can be exempt from sales tax in Washington? New vehicles under $45,000 in purchase price and used vehicles under $30,000 in fair market value can qualify.

Learn more about how to utilize this tax exemption at the Department of Licensing Tax Exemptions webpage. 

Washington State residents earning up to $45,180 annually for a single person or $93,600 for a family of four, are eligible to receive up to $9,000 for a new EV lease of three years or more, or up to $5,000 for new EV purchases or two-year leases.

Learn more about this program at the Department of Commerce Rebate Program. 

Our local energy utility also provides incentives for residents to drive electric. Learn more at the Puget Sound Energy Incentives website.

The Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes tax credits up to $7,500 if you buy a new, qualified plug-in EV or fuel cell vehicle. This tax credit is available to residents who do not exceed certain income thresholds. Learn more about this at the IRS Credits website.

Note that only certain new EVs qualify for the IRA federal tax credits. Search the year, make, and model of the vehicle you’re considering buying to check if that vehicle qualifies for the IRA tax credit at the Fuel Economy page.

Purchasing a used EV for $25,000 or less can also make you eligible for IRA tax credits. The credit for used EVs equals 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000. Learn more about this at the IRS Used Clean Vehicle website.

The city owns and operates two charging locations for public use at this time:

• Three Level 2 J1772 charge ports at City Hall (555 Israel Road SW).
  • Accessible 24/7
  • Free charging
• Two Level 2 J1772 charge ports at Pioneer Park (5801 Henderson Blvd SE).
  • Accessible sunrise to sunset
  • Free charging

The charging station at Pioneer Park is solar-powered. It is ADA accessible and includes a 110-volt outlet to charge other e-mobility devices such as electric wheelchairs or electric bikes. This charger is a pilot project to see if off-grid solar-powered EV chargers are suitable for further expansion into city parks. This kind of charging solution is not connected to the energy grid and thus will not strain the grid, nor will it go down in the event of power outages.

There are many public EV charging stations throughout Tumwater.

The city-owned EV chargers at Pioneer Park and for city fleet vehicles are supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available the Washington Climate Action webpage. 

Feedback sought on EV pole charging

The city of Tumwater Sustainability Team is partnering with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to study the feasibility of placing public electric vehicle chargers on PSE-owned power poles within the city. 

Pole-mounted chargers attach to curbside streetlights and utility poles, expanding where they can be installed and increasing public access. The chargers would be level 2 chargers, adding 10-25 miles of range to an EV battery per hour of charging. They would have retractable cords that lower upon payment. 

Want PSE to install a charger near you? Place suggested locations on the PSE map. Learn more about the project on the PSE website. 

One thing to be aware of when you switch to an EV, is that you’re no longer paying fuel tax at the gas pump. In Washington State, both state and federal fuel tax is added to the cost of gas/diesel at the pump. This fuel tax funds transportation/road projects on state, city, and county roads, bridges, and ferry systems. 

Because EVs are still benefiting from those projects and improvements to transportation networks, but aren’t paying money at the gas pump, the Department of Licensing charges additional fees for EVs for their vehicle tab registration and renewal to ensure EV drivers are paying their fair share for those improvements as well. These fees range from $50 - $100 each. Learn more, or calculate your car tab fees.

Soon, Washington State will provide rebates and lending library/ownership programs for electric bicycles, also called e-bikes. Learn more at WSDOT Blog.

E-bikes are allowed for use throughout the city of Tumwater. In fact, our Pioneer Park EV charging station has a special outlet specifically for charging e-bikes and electric wheelchairs.

Tumwater and the Thurston Region are served by InterCity Transit. Routes 68, 12, and 13 service Tumwater and riding InterCity Transit is free.

Plan your trip at InterCity Transit's Plan Your Trip webpage. 

Intercity Transit connects to a number of area transit agencies including:

• Grays Harbor Transit
• King County Metro
• Mason Transit
• Pierce Transit
• Sound Transit

Dial-a-Lift is a door-to-door, shared-ride public transportation service for people with disabilities that prevent them from using Intercity Transit’s fixed route service. To use Dial-A-Lift, you must apply and be eligible. Learn more at InterCity Dial-Lift. 

Intercity Transit’s vanpool is a service for when three or more people who share a similar commute can be provided with a van, gas, tolls, insurance, and maintenance. Individuals pay a low monthly fare based on their daily round-trip miles. Learn more at InterCity Transit Vanpool. 

The Thurston Regional Planning Council maintains a list of walking and recreation resources.

The Thurston Regional Planning Council maintains a variety of bike maps of Thurston County. These are available at Online Bike Maps.

Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll education program increases independence, improves safety, and inspires a healthy lifestyle by making walking, biking, rolling, and public transit more accessible to people of all races, ages, incomes, and abilities. They provide bicycle education and operate a community bike shop. Learn more at InterCity Walk'N'Roll.

Each year for the month of May, Intercity Transit organizes the Bicycle Community Challenge (BCC). Learn more on InterCity Transit's webpage.