According to Pew, lawmakers in California and other states are trying to pass bills that will help speed up the adoption of EVs. The goal is to have nearly 1 million new EVs on the roads this year, and states need to be ready to meet EV drivers’ needs with more charging stations..

“We will see a lot more emphasis on electric vehicles in 2022 and 2023,” said Dylan McDowell, deputy director of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, to Pew. “This is the start of a really big turning point.”

State legislatures all across the country are not only looking to build up a comprehensive charging infrastructure, but also make consumer incentives for EV adoption more attractive and electrify state-owned vehicle fleets.

Much of the reason behind speeding up EV vehicle adoption has to do with environmental considerations. As Pew reports:

“In the United States, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, making up nearly 30% of the national total. While many states have plans to switch to renewable electricity sources, reducing vehicle emissions—with millions of drivers making personal buying choices about their cars—is much more complicated.”

As a result, legislation that can help boost EV sales in the private sector is becoming a priority.

Even in the midst of the pandemic-fueled economic slowdown, EV sales have doubled in the U.S. in 2021 compared to 2020. In 2022, car buyers will have twice as many EV models to consider during their shopping experience. Not only do state leaders want to make sure there are enough charging stations to meet consumers’ needs, but they also want to make sure the advantages of EVs are available to the less privileged.

While Democratic states have been more “aggressive,” Pew reports, all states are gearing up for increasing the charging infrastructure and electrifying state vehicles.

“Still, some Republicans argue that market forces, rather than public investments or mandates, should be left to work. Some GOP-led states have introduced or passed bills to block their local governments from requiring charging stations in certain locations.”

Currently, the state with the highest EV adoption is California, and Hawaii ranks as number two. Not surprisingly, state legislation regarding EVs is more active in these states than others. Specifically, Hawaii lawmakers want to build charging stations for rental cars, which account for much of the state’s EVs, to serve the needs of tourists. Other ideas include requiring charging stations in public parking lots and a consumer rebate for EVs.

The Race to Meet EV Adoption Needs

With EV sales expected to rise significantly over the following years, states have a lot of work to do to get ready. We’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest developments on EV adoption in future articles.