Plugging into the Future of Transportation

Climate News Headlines

Multiple proposals in D.C. to increase EV adoption
EV investment via infrastructure bill

• Biden's initial proposal contained $174B for boosting our transition to EVs - $100B to fund rebates on new EVs and $15B for charging infrastructure
• Senate Republicans recently countered with $15B (total investment in EVs) in the bipartisan infrastructure proposal
• Senate Democrats looking to pass separate $3.5T infrastructure bill via reconciliation that will hopefully contain more of Biden’s original proposal
• More Republicans Support Biden's $3.5 Trillion Spending Bill Than Oppose: Poll (msn.com)

Congress also pushing separate bills to both extend and expand federal tax credit of $7500

• Merkley, Welch Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Extend Electric Vehicle Tax Credit | Congressman Peter Welch (house.gov)
• Senate finance committee pass bill adding extra $2500 for domestic production and another $2500 for union labor for a total of $12,500

Transportation Emissions

Transportation leading source of US emissions

• 28% based on 2018 EPA data (29% based on recently published 2019 data)
• ~60% of those emissions are cars we drive
• Fast Facts on Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Green Vehicle Guide | US EPA

To limit warming to 1.5 Celsius Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says we need to cut our emissions

• 45% by 2030
• Net zero by 2050
• Global Warming of 1.5 ºC — (ipcc.ch) 

Electric Vehicle Overview

Typical Cost

Multiple models under $33K after $7500 federal tax credit
Even w/o credit, Chevy Bolt starts at $36K
Some States have incentives

• Up to $2500 in OR and $5000 in NJ State & Federal Incentives - (pluginamerica.org)

Typical Range

Most offer at least 200 mile range
Models available with 300 mile range battery Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach e
Average person drives only 26 miles / day (See Bureau of Transportation guide page 11)

Charging

Three types of chargers – Level 1, 2, and 3
Most people charge at home
On the road – over 50K chargers in-service today and more by the day Alternative Fuels Data Center: Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations (energy.gov)
PlugShare and ChargeHub both offer interactive maps of available chargers
Most manufacturers have trip planner apps

Other EV Benefits based on Consumer Reports Study

Reduced cost of ownership

• Cost 50% less to maintain, ~ $4600 over 200k miles
• Cost 60% less to fuel, 

Less stops

• ~90% of charging done at home for 250 mile range vehicles