As the Charge Ahead California Initiative advances in the state legislature, seven other states have announced their own packages of pro-EV incentives. The collective goal is to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025.

The eight-state coalition, consisting of California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont, released an action plan that includes a continued commitment to consumer incentives and tax credits, as well as reciprocity agreements for nonmonetary benefits, such as carpool lane access and preferential parking for ZEVs.

Mary Nichols, Chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, told reporters that the plan is based on federally-mandated state emissions requirements. “The states have mandates which are legally enforceable because of the Clean Air Act. But states have had a history of adjusting numbers based on circumstance.”

When asked about Fiat CEO and well-known EV party pooper Sergio Marchionne’s contention that his company loses $14,000 on every Fiat 500e sold, Nichols said that Toyota once claimed it lost money on the Prius. “Everyone understands that going into new technology requires a commitment from auto companies, and they don’t normally turn a profit as quickly as everyone would like. But through a sustained commitment, they will. We’re coming to this collaboration as a way of helping companies. They’ve done a great job of producing great cars. We want them to succeed and want them to make money on this.”

In addition to financial measures, the action plan calls for streamlining building codes and liability insurance regulations so that commercial buildings can allow for charging EVs. It also promotes uniform signage and payment systems for public charging stations.

Source: Automotive News