4 Steps That States Can Take to Promote Electric Cars
Photo: The Mobility House
Electric vehicle adoption continues to increase in the U.S., as consumer awareness increases and EV prices drop. Just last fall, Forbes reported that EVs are predicted to hit 65 percent of sales by 2050. While many states are implementing electric car initiatives, there are four things states can do to promote electric cars, to speed up the EV adoption rate.
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Get on board the zero-emission vehicle mandate
More states should adopt the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires automakers to sell a certain number of zero-emission vehicles. So far, these states have joined the mandate: California, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Back electric companies’ efforts to expand infrastructure
States can also support electric utilities’ expansion projects. For instance, California recently approved three utility companies’ $750 million spending plan to expand the infrastructure and provide more rebates to EV owners.
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Offer financial rebates
States can also offer incentives to increase EV purchases. With a combination of state, federal, and utility level rebates, an electric car’s price tag is often comparable to a non-EV model. Click here to view some of the current federal-level tax incentives in the U.S. for purchasing an electric car.
Help educate consumers and retailers
State programs geared toward educating retailers and consumers would help speed EV adoption. Many customers don’t understand the subtle differences between types of EVs. For example, many people don’t understand how a plug-in electric vehicle differs from a plug-in hybrid EV. It turns out that dealership staff can be just as unfamiliar with electric models. According to an Ipsos RDA study, mystery shoppers found that many dealers promoted more familiar non-EV models that they felt more comfortable selling.
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News Sources: Fortune, Forbes, Ipsos
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