Providence, RI – Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today announced that Rhode Island is one of eight states to release a collaborative Action Plan to develop infrastructure, coordinate policies, codes and standards, and encourage a consumer market primed to put 3.3 million zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2025. The Multi-State ZEV Action Plan is the first promised milestone for the bi-coastal collaboration to pave the way for increasingly large numbers of the cleanest cars in the nation.
Along with Rhode Island, the partner states are California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon 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 (MOU) on October 24, 2013.
"Rhode Island has already started taking steps and one includes the installation of charging stations throughout the state. We are determined to develop a clean and efficient transportation infrastructure for the future," Governor Chafee said. "Through the Zero Emission Vehicle MOU, we have created a vital partnership that will reduce our reliance on imported oil, boost our economy, and save money at the pump. This is an important collaboration that works toward our common goal of protecting our environment."
The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to reduce greenhouse gas and smog-causing emissions by transforming the transportation sector over the next 11 years. Since the MOU signing, state regulators, the auto industry, infrastructure developers and other concerned parties 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 two 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 ZEV's nationwide. Sales have doubled over the past year alone, with more than half of those sales occurring in the MOU signatory states.
The Action Plan covers the following areas:
Build the market by promoting the availability and effective marketing of ZEVs, encouraging private fleets to acquire ZEVs, promoting planning and investment in ZEV infrastructure, and increasing the number of ZEVs in government vehicle fleets.
Provide uniform rules and tracking by removing barriers to charging station installation, providing clear and uniform signage, and tracking and reporting progress toward the 3.3 million vehicle goal.
Improve the experience by promoting workplace charging, providing consumer incentives for the purchase of ZEVs, removing barriers to retail sale of electricity as vehicle fuel and promoting access and compatibility for charging networks.