Electric Vehicles, Bicycles, Outdoor Equipment

Transportation has previously relied on fossil energy to move people around, but that is starting to change.

Vehicles and outdoor equipment have cleaner options now that reduce the carbon pollution in our air, and electric-assisted personal transportation are now commonplace.

Electric-Assisted Bicycles (e-Bikes)

Miles of paved trails run through Eden Prairie. While great for recreation, the trails can also be used to run errands or attend events. To make those longer trips a bit easier, an e-Bike uses an electric motor to boost your pedaling or can even take over entirely as needed. Be sure to follow bike safety guidelines while using an e-Bike.

The State of Minnesota offers a rebate program to encourage e-Bike adoption. A rebate of up to $750 is available in a lottery system for qualified applicants. The rebate is applied at the point of sale and immediately lowers the purchase price.

Outdoor Electric Equipment

Gas-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers, trimmers and other outdoor equipment are noisy and pollute the air directly around you. Electric options are cleaner and quieter. Xcel Energy offers an Outdoor Equipment Rebate Program for lawn mowers. Customers can earn up to $200 rebates on qualifying home lawn mower purchases, and more for home-based businesses.

Finding the Right Electric Vehicle

Want to choose an EV, but you're not sure where to start? There are many types of vehicles to choose from, depending on your needs and driving habits.

Assess Driving Patterns

Gauge how far you travel each day and what your driving needs will be.

This will help you decide if a plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle is right for you.

The average American drives 30 miles a day, yet many people think they drive more miles in a day than they actually do. If you are unsure, track your average daily miles over a week or a month. Unless you consistently drive very long distances, an EV can meet most everyday driving needs.

	Battery Electric	Plug-in Hybrid Electric	Hybrid Electric
How is it powered?	A battery stores electric energy that powers the motor	An internal combustion engine and electric motor using energy from a battery	An internal combustion engine; runs on conventional fuel
How to charge/fuel?	Plug into an electric power source	Plug into an electric power source to charge the battery; fill up at a gas station to refuel the gas tank	Fill up at a gas station to refuel the gas tank
Examples	Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model Y, Chevy Bolt	Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid	Toyota Prius

Charging an EV

EV Costs

Transitioning to an EV does not have to mean you're breaking the bank.

The higher upfront cost for most EVs is made up for by lower fuel and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle.

Here are some helpful tools to estimate your costs:

Xcel Energy has a tool to help compare total cost of ownership for different types of electric and gasoline vehicles.
For more in-depth information on all things EV, visit DriveElectricMN.org.

How Eden Prairie is supporting electric vehicle adoption

Eden Prairie is Incorporating EVs into its Fleet

The Eden Prairie Police Department added its first fully electric patrol vehicle to its fleet as a pilot in 2021. The City had experience with two previous EVs in its fleet for everyday use, but the Tesla Model Y patrol vehicle was the City's first use of an EV in a specialized law enforcement function.

Due to the vehicle's performance in the initial stages of the pilot, as well as lifecycle cost and emissions savings, Eden Prairie now has a number of different makes and models of EVs in its fleet to support various City functions. The City also worked with Xcel Energy to improve charging infrastructure in preparation for future growth in the EV fleet.

Charging Smart Bronze Designation

Eden Prairie was recently one of the first nine cities in the nation to earn bronze designation through the Charging Smart program. Charging Smart is a technical assistance and best-practice-based local government designation program funded by the US Department of Energy, and led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council and Great Plains Institute that aims to remove barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

Charging Smart provides personalized, no-cost technical assistance to help municipalities set and achieve policies that facilitate the equitable expansion of EVs in their communities. Local governments that achieve certain metrics are awarded bronze, silver or gold designations, a public recognition of their status as an EV-friendly community.

City of Eden Prairie