California’s shelling out $1.9 bil to amp up its electric vehicle game, targeting a network of 40,000 new chargers statewide — it’s like The Fast and the Furious: EV Edition. And here’s the sweet part: more than half of that money will directly benefit priority populations, making it more of a Robin Hood move than just a tech upgrade. So gear up, ’cause with its Climate Commitment plan, Cali’s not just leading the race, it’s changing the track.
California’s Zesty Move Towards Zero-Emission Transportation
California is fueling up its zero-emission transport sector with a fun-sized $1.9 billion, focusing on electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling.
The California Energy Commission green-lit this investment to roll out infrastructure for light to heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. This plan promises the most expansive charging and hydrogen refueling network nationwide, adding 40,000 new chargers across the state.
Over half of the $1.9 billion will benefit priority communities in the next four years. It’s an exciting part of California’s cool $48 billion Climate Commitment, with $10 billion earmarked for zero-emission vehicles and their infrastructure.
Currently, California boasts 94,000 public and shared private chargers. With this new investment, along with other funds from the Biden administration and utilities, the Golden State aims to jump to 250,000 chargers soon.
The funding will be up for grabs for projects over the next four years through grants, including incentives and rebates for businesses, non-profit organizations, tribes, and public agencies.
“We need to make this zero-emission refueling infrastructure accessible to everybody” said CEC’s Transportation Lead Commissioner, Patty Monahan. By investing a large chunk of funds to benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities, California ensures better access to chargers while reducing pollution from trucks and buses.
The effort in California comes at a crucial time, as more groundwork for EV infrastructure is needed for its wider adoption.
Recently, several industry titans created a new, cross-industry coalition, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation. This aims to speed up the deployment of zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and fine-tune national climate policies to cater to medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs. The coalition includes big names like Daimler Truck North America, Navistar, and Volvo Group North America.
California has long been ahead of the rest of the United States in decarbonizing roadways. The state leads in terms of public EV charging ports availability.
Original Story at www.environmentenergyleader.com
