What Happened?
Eight states across the country are working together to adopt measures to boost the sales of electric cars in an effort to have 3.3 million zero emissions vehicles on the roads by 2025. The eight states combine represent more than 25 percent of the national car market, and are collaboratively promoting electric vehicle purchases, hydrogen fueling stations and changes to building codes to support the initiative.
The Goal
The eight states involved in the effort (California, Connecticut,, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont) want to implement more charging stations that take the same form of payment, make it easier for chargers to be installed across the country, redesign building codes and local regulations to support the development of the zero emission vehicle industry, and encourage the building of more hydrogen fueling stations to manage an anticipated increase in demand for the vehicles, The New York Times reported.
Furthermore, the states are investigating time of use electric rates to encourage charging during non-peak hours, incentives for buyers such as reduced tolls and preferred parking, as well as electric car purchases for local government fleets. While similar collaborations have made strides to increase emissions limits on gasoline-fueled cars and promote the hybrid vehicle market in the past, the partnership is hoping to help consumers overcome a major barrier to electric car adoption: access to charging stations.
By working together to create strong networks of charging stations across state lines, and with uniform signage, drivers will feel more comfortable traveling in zero emission vehicles. The states are looking to reduce the cost of the initiative as much as possible, focusing on affordable adjustments such as extending car pool lanes to electric vehicle owners and installing electric chargers in all new home builds. Many of the states are using funding they have received prior to the partnership to fund the effort including:
- Connecticut has money from Northeast Utilities thanks to a merger
- Massachusetts have an existing electric vehicle incentive program through the state’s Department of Environmental Protection
- Maryland lawmakers approved tax credits for electric car owners
- Rhode Island and Oregon are leveraging federal stimulus funding to pay for the projects
- Vermont has partnered with Hydro Quebec utility to fund charging station construction
Network In Place
According to the Transportation and Climate Initiative, there is an existing electric vehicle network action plan in place throughout the Northeast. The partnership is working to:
- Combine resources of private, public and utility sectors
- Streamline permits for home and public charging infrastructure
- Coordinate regional planning for optimal charging station placement
- Ensure consistent outcomes for electric vehicle users
Leveraging funds from the 2011 Electric Vehicle Readiness Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the effort is one of many across the country looking to increase awareness for green transit options to local consumers.
Clean Driving
Gov1 has monitored other collaborations aimed at reducing the dependency on gasoline-fueled vehicles in local communities while increasing access to green transit options.