Six new laws have been passed by the governor of California, Jerry Brown, in order to promote the growth of electric and low-carbon vehicles in the state. California already has more EVs than any other state in the US, partly because policymakers are very keen to support them.
In what might be the largest financial commitment to clean transportation provided by a state so far, a series of measures, worth more than $2 billion in total, have been supported which aim to support the reduction of auto emissions in California and to help consumers and fleet owners buy clean and low carbon vehicles. These include programmes such as the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Programme, the Air Quality Improvement Programme, the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Programme and the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Programme.
The White Sticker and Green Sticker programmes, which allow for certain low-emission vehicles to enter ‘high occupancy’ zones (diamond lanes), have been extended until 2019 or until the authorization expires.
The California Building Standards Commission and the Department of Housing and Community Development will be required to develop standards for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in multi-family housing and non-residential developments.
A measure has been passed to provide $30 million for the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project and the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project while another $10 million has been allocated to the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Programme. A further $8 million has been awarded to the enhanced fleet modernization programme.
Finally the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Open Access Act removes obstacles to the use of electric vehicles by improving the accessibility of charging stations to all electric vehicle drivers, making them easier to locate and more convenient to use.
California presently has a target of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025, in comparison to the 28 million cars and trucks already licensed to use the roads in the state.
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