Infrastructure Policy Developments

Policy Developments

Battery electric vehicles continue to gain momentum at both the state and federal level. At the federal level, President Biden recently issued an executive order calling for 50 percent of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030 to be electric, and the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which passed the Senate in August, includes up to $7.5 billion in electric vehicle infrastructure investments. Additional programs are being discussed in the reconciliation bill, including new tax incentives for new and used EVs. 

At the state level, California, New York, and Massachusetts have announced ambitious policies as well. 

In New York, in advance of Climate Week, Governor Hochul announced took action toward the decarbonization of the state’s transportation sector by signing legislation setting a goal for all new passenger cars and trucks sold to be zero emission by 2035. In addition, Governor Hochul directed the Department of Environmental Conservation to release a proposed regulation to reduce air pollution from trucks and require truck manufacturers to sell zero emission trucks.  

In Massachusetts, the Baker administration signed earlier this year comprehensive climate change legislation that codifies the Administration’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions in 2050, which also increases protections for environmental justice communities. Governor Baker also signed an Executive Order which includes a requirement that all state fleets purchase ZEVs starting in 2022.  The state regulator – the Department of Public Utilities - is also currently in the process of evaluating proposals from its electric distribution utilities to facilitate the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure through rate design and related programs. 

Favorable EV policies have not been limited to the coasts, however, and Illinois is setting itself up to be a leader in transportation electrification with new legislation signed by Governor Pritzker just a few weeks ago. The legislation includes a goal for one million EVs on the road by 2030, which will be complemented by a vehicle rebate program and new EV infrastructure programs.  "EVgo applauds the Pritzker administration and legislature for bringing some of the nation's most ambitious climate legislation to the finish line. This law, which includes complementary policies to scale both electric vehicle sales and charging infrastructure, puts Illinois on a path to become a national leader in transportation electrification, with important attention to environmental justice and transportation equity," said EVgo Vice President of Market Development and Public Policy, Sara Rafalson. For more information, read more.