CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE ORDER DOUBLES DOWN ON EV MANDATE

Following the signing of a new executive order by California Governor Jerry Brown, the official target for all-electric vehicle sales in the state is now 5 million electric cars on California’s roads by 2030.

That target builds on the earlier target of 1.5 zero emissions vehicles by 2025 by quite a bit. The move demonstrates that Governor Brown’s previous comments about pursuing further actions to support clean tech regardless of federal policies weren’t just glib talk. The recently signed executive order states that it will function, “to curb carbon pollution from cars and trucks and boost the number of zero-emission vehicles driven in California.”

“To reach the goal, California will spend $2.5 billion between now and 2025 to install more charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations throughout the state. It will also beef up its incentives and rebate programs for people who buy zero emissions cars. Right now, there are about 350,000 zero-emissions vehicles on the road in California. Increasing the number 15 fold in 12 years will be a daunting task.

“The plan calls for expanding the number of EV charging stations in the state from 14,000 today to 250,000. Fast charging stations will increase from 1,500 to 10,000 and hydrogen refueling stations will jump from 31 today to 200. Some of the cost of expanding the charging infrastructure will be paid for money Volkswagen has agreed to pay to settle claims connected to its diesel cheating scandal. Proceeds from California’s cap & trade carbon emissions will also pay part of the cost.”

“California, joined by nearly a dozen other states, could seek to enforce existing emissions rules, even if the Trump administration softens the federal 2022-2025 requirements,” Reuters adds. “Automakers want the White House and California to reach agreement because a legal battle over the rules could result in lengthy uncertainty for the industry. They want changes to address lower gasoline prices and a shift in US consumer preferences to larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles.”

While this news is of course worth taking consideration of, it remains to be seen what it will amount to in practice. One thing that is certain, however, is that this move will definitely upset the Trump base and his Administration’s EPA!

By James Ayre, originally published by EVObsession.