Letter to the Editor Tips
Write a letter in support of electric transportation
Help get electric cars on the radar by writing a simple letter to the editor of your local paper. Not sure where to start? We’ve created a template that highlights some key points to mention.
Tips on great letter writing
- Introduce yourself
Share who you are and how you’re connected to the community - Get personal
Explain why electric transportation is important to you - Tie things back to your community
Offer some insight on how you think electric cars would directly benefit your local community, or Vermont as a whole - Reference other stories
If possible, tie your letter to other recent letters or news articles in the paper
Letter to the editor template
Not sure where to start? Copy and paste the text below and personalize as needed:
Vermonters take pride in living in a healthy state where the trees outnumber the people and the air we breathe is clean. But for all our nature loving, more than three quarters of us still drive alone to work. All that driving takes a toll on our air quality. Tailpipe exhaust also generates almost half of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions, contributing directly to climate change.
The best way to reduce vehicle emissions is to walk, bike, or take mass transit. But when that’s not possible, there’s a better option for driving: buying or leasing an electric car. All-electric cars produce zero tailpipe emissions. The electricity Vermont uses to charge these cars is clean, too: our state’s electric grid produces much less carbon than most others in the US.
Electric cars work exactly like gas-powered cars, except they have a plug. You charge them up at home or at work the same way you would a cell phone. Driving range between charges has increased dramatically. Vehicles like the new Chevy Bolt can go 238 miles before plugging back in and plug-in hybrid models can run on battery or gasoline on longer trips. Purchase and lease prices for some models are as low as $15,000 (after incentives) and $200/month, respectively.
Plug-in cars are now on the road in 80% of Vermont communities. But we can do more to encourage drivers to make the switch. Workers are 20 times more likely to buy an electric car if their employer offers at-work charging. And a Drive Electric Vermont study completed last year showed higher electric car incentives in the state could help spur adoption.
It’s never been a better time to plug in. Ask your employer to put in a charging station, and talk with your community leaders about electric vehicle incentives. And if you’re ready to purchase your next vehicle, buy or lease electric. We’ll all breathe easier.