The governors of eight states have partnered on the Multi-State ZEV Action Plan designed to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025.
The partner states are California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. Together they comprise about a quarter of the nation's new car sales.
The governors of the eight states began this latest collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on October 24, 2013. The ultimate goal is to reduce greenhouse gas and smog-causing emissions by transforming the transportation sector by 2025. Since the MOU signing, state regulators, the auto industry and infrastructure developers and other stakeholders have shared information and best practices to help move this groundbreaking effort forward.
ZEVs include plug-in hybrids, battery electric and hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles. To date, manufacturers have rolled out more than 2 dozen models in these categories and they have developed a solid foothold in the automobile market. As of April 2014 there are nearly 200,000 nationwide. Sales have doubled over the past year alone, with more than half of those sales occurring in the MOU signatory states.
The 8-State ZEV Action Plan provides an overview of the current state of the market. It also provides an agenda to accelerate the development of that market.
There are 11 Key Actions to be taken by all the partners, and the elements needed to successfully complete those actions, divided into three main components:
Build the market
- Promote the availability and effective marketing of ZEVs.
- Encourage private fleets to acquire ZEVs.
- Promote planning and investment in ZEV infrastructure.
- Increase the number of ZEVs in government vehicle fleets.
Provide consistent codes, standards and tracking
- Remove barriers to charging station installation.
- Provide clear and uniform signage.
- Track and report progress toward the 3.3 million vehicle goal.
Improve the experience
- Promote workplace charging.
- Provide consumer incentives for the purchase of ZEVs.
- Remove barriers to retail sale of electricity as vehicle fuel.
- Promote access and compatibility for charging networks.