While the per capita ownership of electric vehicles (EVs) in Fairfield County is still fractional compared to vehicles powered by fossil fuel, 2019 still showed a measurable increase in the ownership of these clean driving cars in Connecticut — and in Newtown.

According to the EV Club of Connecticut (evclubct.com), registrations of electric vehicles jumped more than 25 percent in 2019, with Fairfield County leading the regional “charge” toward parking more of these alternative means of transportation in local driveways and garages. Newtown had about 125 electric vehicles registered in 2019, the club’s dashboard shows.

Newtown worked to set a good example early on in the EV movement by acquiring its first fully electric vehicle back in early 2018. The town’s all-electric Chevrolet Bolt subcompact hatchback was put into service in early May.

But that was years after the municipality in its first hybrid, a Ford Escape.

The demonstration EV, which the town acquired through a grant program, has a range of 238 miles on a charge and is wrapped with the legend “Go Green Newtown.” It can regularly be seen hooked up to a dual port charging station just outside the Municipal Center at Fairfield Hills.

Newtown’s Sustainable Energy Commission oversaw the electric car’s acquisition, which is primarily used by municipal zoning and health inspectors.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley, whose department oversees Newtown’s municipal motor pool, said he recommended acquiring an EV once the range available on a full charge became practical. And he remains thrilled about the Bolt’s performance.

“In a word, I’d call it flawless,” Mr Hurley said. Except for routine service like brakes and tires, there has been virtually no added maintenance.

That level of performance and the continuing enhancement of battery capacity and range on a full charge has motivated Mr Hurley to suggest Newtown consider adding at least one more EV in the next two years — possibly a pickup truck.

“There are certain inspectors, like our building inspector, who might make better use of an electric pickup,” the DPW chief said. “You won’t see us plowing with it, but it could be a practical addition to our fleet.”

Last October, CT DEEP released its first draft report on the slow movement toward replacing fossil fuel powered vehicles in the state with EVs and hybrids.

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Comprehensive Energy Strategy, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has developed an Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut (EV Roadmap).

The purpose of this roadmap is to evaluate the current state of EV deployment in Connecticut, identify the necessary deployment levels needed to meet the state’s climate and air quality goals, discuss the potential benefits and impacts of increased EV deployment, recommend strategies for equitable access for underserved and low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, and identify proposed strategies to further accelerate EV deployment in the state.

In 2019 Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) became the most widely registered fuel type for the first time, with registrations growing by 47 percent and outpacing Plug-In Hybrids (PHEVs) by 13 percent. Tesla led the way by a huge margin in terms of the make of EVs being added to the state DMV roles, with Chevrolet and Toyota about tied for second place.

The top five communities representing the highest percentage of EV ownership are Greenwich, Stamford, Westport, Fairfield, and Norwalk, with Newtown coming in at 13 — right between Trumbull and Shelton. More than 40 percent of the state’s registered EVs are in Fairfield County with Hartford County coming in second at just under 20 percent.