TL/DR –

Robert Blake, a powerhouse from Red Lake Nation, is fed up with pipelines snaking through his community. He is now leading the Electric Nation project to set up charging stations across US reservations. Fueled by a hefty $7M US Department of Energy grant, this venture is taking a stand against fossil fuel companies and boosting the electric vehicle revolution. Despite bumps in the road like Tesla’s recent sales slump, “range anxiety,” and affordability issues, EVs are zooming from fringe to mainstream.

Revolutionizing the Roads with Electric Vehicles

Red Lake Nation’s Robert Blake is all too familiar with the fossil fuel industry’s encroachment on Indigenous communities. Blake, the Director of Native Sun Community Power Development, is taking advantage of a grant for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

In 2021, Native Sun secured nearly seven million dollars from the US Department of Energy. Their goal? To create an EV charging station network across 23 reservations in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. This project, aptly named Electric Nation, also supplied 15 electric vehicles to Red Lake Nation and Standing Rock, with more soon to come.

According to this report, the global EV revolution is in full swing and set to transform the auto industry while significantly reducing oil consumption.

The Upward Trajectory of EVs

The US is trailing behind China, the EU, and Norway in pro-EV policies but is catching up, says Joel Jaeger from the World Resources Institute’s Systems Change Lab. With the US hitting the million mark in EV sales in 2023, a 50% increase from the previous year, Jaeger describes this as “eye-popping growth”.

The rise in EV adoption is attributed to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act providing renewable energy funding and tax credits, the 2021 Infrastructure and Investment in Jobs Act allocating five billion dollars to build charging stations, and new Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The EPA projects that by 2032, two-thirds of new passenger vehicle sales will be electric.

Charging Ahead Despite Challenges

While the shift to EVs faces challenges like limited charging stations and “range anxiety”, experts are optimistic about overcoming these hurdles. Tom Taylor, senior policy analyst at Atlas Public Policy, explains that public charging stations are critical for those living in apartments and planning longer trips.

Another challenge is cost. Yet, the International Energy Agency (IEA) report highlights that though EVs are currently expensive, prices are dropping. Plus, the Inflation Reduction Act provides up to $7,500 in tax credits for EV purchases, creating certainty for the auto industry.

When Will EVs Hit the Mainstream?

The Biden administration aims for EVs to account for 50% of light-duty vehicle sales by around 2030. EVs may soon become a common sight on the roads, especially in California, a frontrunner in EV sales and chargers.

EVs are an integral part of decarbonizing transportation. Experts like Taylor stress that good transit access is key to tackling climate change. In rural areas with fewer charging stations, hybrids may be popular in the near future. However, with government funding, tax incentives, and cheaper technology, Blake is hopeful that EVs will be widespread in Red Lake Nation by 2040.

Original Story at www.aljazeera.com