USA: 9 states release plan to boost electric vehicles
In a Trump-defying move, 9 states of America with California in the lead have released an action plan to boost electric vehicle sales. The plan lists 80 steps that the industry, utilities, state officials and infrastructure companies should take until 2021.
The proposal lists 80 different steps that automakers, dealers, utilities, government officials and charging and fueling companies should take between 2018 to 2021 to boost the uptake of zero-emission vehicles. This refers mainly to electric vehicles but also plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. The steps include initiatives to increase awareness, such as EV familiarization events, expanding charging infrastructure and promotion of low- and zero-emission vehicles.
Their most important call, however, is that that the proposal should be implemented regardless whether the Environmental Protection Agency lowers fuel-efficiency standards as expected. In addition to California, signees include the mostly Northeast states of Oregon, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Together they make up one-third of the U.S. car market.
Their call comes after the dispute over the Trump administration trying to lower “Obama” emission standards became more heated. While the current legislation allows for states to impose higher standards than are federally mandated, this had been questioned. As a consequence, California and 17 other states, including all of those on the action plan, sued the Trump administration last month for weakening the Obama fuel-efficiency rules.
This proposal has been welcomed by carmakers, especially as they have already invested in zero-emission technology and intend to continue working towards emission-free transport.
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