* American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy…
Leading states are strengthening policies to enable widespread use of electric cars, trucks, and buses, but all states will have to dramatically step up their efforts to enable a full transition, a new report finds. The 2023 State Transportation Electrification Scorecard from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) evaluates states’ policies to encourage electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Only nine states scored more than half the points available.
“We are seeing incremental progress, not transformational progress. States will have to move far more aggressively to do their part to enable the electric vehicle transition that the climate crisis demands,” said Peter Huether, senior research associate at ACEEE and lead author of the report. “Auto manufacturers are expanding their EV options and consumers are increasingly choosing them, but supportive state policies are needed to ensure that the electric grid is ready and that all households and businesses, including those in underserved communities, can use EVs and have adequate access to charging.”
California ranked first in the Scorecard, scoring 88 out of 100 points. The Golden State has committed to full electrification of light-duty vehicle sales, is planning significant updates to its electricity grid to prepare for a sharp rise in EVs, and incorporates equity considerations into its EV policy, setting aside significant funding for EV purchases in low-income communities and communities of color. New York, which came in second with 62 points, has heavily incentivized the purchase of EVs and EV charging infrastructure, including from its investor-owned utilities, and has taken considerable steps to integrate EVs onto the grid. Rounding out the top 10 are Colorado (#3), Massachusetts (#4), Vermont (#5), Washington State (#6), New Jersey (#7), the District of Columbia (tied for #8), Oregon (tied for #8), and Maryland (#10). The top nine states scored more than 50 points, and all others scored less than half the points available.
Since ACEEE’s last assessment of state EV policies in 2021, California finalized two important EV regulations: the Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which requires all new cars sold by 2035 to be EVs, and the Advanced Clean Truck regulation, which requires heavy-duty truck sales to begin to transition to electric models. Six states have adopted California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule, and seven adopted its truck rule. Six additional states are considering adopting one or both of the rules. Nationwide, utilities have committed to invest $760 million in vehicle charging infrastructure since the last scorecard. The number of states requiring transit agencies to electrify their buses has doubled from four to eight.
* Illinois made incremental progress…
llinois (#21) scored 27.5 points out of 100, up from 23 points and a rank of 23rd in our 2021 edition. The state has made progress in offering financial incentives for EV purchases and EV charging infrastructure. Illinois offers one of the most generous rebates (up to $4,000) for purchasing or leasing an EV. The state offers rebates that can cover up to 80% of eligible project costs for installing level 2 or fast charging stations. Projects located in disadvantaged or environmental justice communities can earn additional rebates. Illinois would benefit significantly from adopting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule and Advanced Clean Truck rule, which would make it a clear leader in the Midwest on transitioning to electric passenger and heavy-duty vehicles. Adopting the Advanced Clean Truck rule and supporting the electrification of school buses would help support the EV manufacturing industry in the state since electric delivery vans and school buses are manufactured in Illinois.
* And check out these ginormous EV manufacturing subsidies…
Illinois has a $400 million fund to help close EV-related deals and other tools at its disposal, but whew.
- James - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 10:43 am:
I don’t want an electric car. I won’t buy an electric car. They don’t work in cold climates. The Climate industry is doing just fine without my money.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 10:48 am:
Was SUV shopping earlier this year, and was considering buying a Plug-In Hybrid. The dealers have next to nothing in inventory, and when they do they are spoken for - 6 month wait minimum. And prices are 40-50% higher. Dealer told me the shipment of EVs and Plug-In are headed to California where the demand (due to their imposed deadline) is high. Wound up buying a ICE (Toyota RAV 4). No complaints.
- Chicago Blue - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 10:51 am:
Interestingly, those states throwing out those massive EV subsidies are all ranked lower than IL or not ranked at all (with the exception of Nevada).
- Been There - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 11:29 am:
Is there a way we can turn ethanol into electricity? Without burning it of course. That would move the needle in Illinois. /s
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 11:37 am:
“Interestingly, those states throwing out those massive EV subsidies are all ranked lower than IL or not ranked at all (with the exception of Nevada)”
They (GA, NC, KS, TN) are smart, they benefit by manufacturing EVs or EV components with all the infrastructure and jobs that go with it. What they don’t do is handcuff residents or industries with government-forced regulations like CA.
- SWIL_Voter - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 11:41 am:
Bought a plug in hybrid last year. Very happy with the purchase. For the first 6 months or so I was operating at 300 mpg equivalent. Over winter that tacked down to 200 mpg as the battery life was not as good as in the summer. Then early spring I got a new job that has me traveling about 350 miles per week. So now I’m using the gas engine quite a bit, but still only filling up once every week and a half and I’m still at about 90 mpg equivalent. Gas savings have been enormous and my electric bill only went up $15-20/month
- WK - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 11:59 am:
I’ve had zero issues buying two different EV’s right here in Illinois. The first was preowned, the second was brand new, sitting on a lot, and had significant rebates and incentives. It works great in the winter as well, despite a little hit in range (nowhere near the loss an earlier posted mentioned). The cost for charging at home is about a tenth of what an equivalent gas car would cost me in fuel.
- froganon - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
I’m looking for a plug in hybrid but may settle for an electric. I need all wheel or 4 wheel drive to get up my street & driveway. Dealers say that plug in hybrids aren’t for sale in Illinois. They’re all going to the west coast, Colorado and New Mexico.
- Chicago 20 - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 12:52 pm:
It’s amazing how dependent States are always topping the corporate subsidies (welfare) lists.
- Sue - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 1:30 pm:
For those who missed yesterday’s news- Amazon is investing 8 billion additional dollars for its AWS business in OHIO
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 1:33 pm:
===additional dollars for its AWS business in OHIO===
Investing in existing investment?
Ok. And?
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 2:09 pm:
I have mixed feelings on EV subsidies. I know climate is a problem and I want Rivian to be a success for Illinois but was very annoyed seeing the feds recently dump $9 billion on a new Ford EV battery plant in the anti-union South and then Ford today reveal it is doing another round of thousands of layoffs.
- New Day - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 4:32 pm:
“I don’t want an electric car. I won’t buy an electric car.”
Says a person who has never driven an electric car. Electric cars have often breathtaking and purely linear acceleration and handle great. They have far fewer moving parts so will be lower cost to maintain. They are not yet for everyone but man, they are fun to drive.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 4:48 pm:
===Illinois offers one of the most generous rebates (up to $4,000) for purchasing or leasing an EV. The state offers rebates that can cover up to 80% of eligible project costs for installing level 2 or fast charging stations.===
Are these in addition to the federal rebate?
Where can we find out the details of these Illinois programs?
- Rose - Wednesday, Jun 28, 23 @ 5:53 pm:
As someone who bought an EV in December, I was SUPER upset to get a letter from the state telling me that they essentially ran out of money for the rebate program and that I won’t be eligible for future rebate cycles because you have to apply within 90 days of buying the car. It’s Kafkaesque BS, frankly. So not surprised we’re making incremental progress when the incentives are so poorly thought out.