The NC Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) has launched a new series of reports, The 50 States of Electric Vehicles, with a special 2017 Review issue. The new series, which will take the form of quarterly reports, provides insights on state regulatory and legislative discussions and actions that relate to EVs.

The report found that 43 states and the District of Columbia took some type of action having to do with EVs during 2017. A total of 227 state and utility-level actions were proposed, pending, or decided. California, New York, Massachusetts, and Minnesota saw the greatest number of actions.

• 34 states considered or adopted changes to the regulation of EVs.
• 21 states took action to study or investigate EVs.
• 20 states considered or approved new incentive programs, or changes to existing incentive programs.
• Utilities or legislatures in 18 states took action related to charging infrastructure.
• Utilities or legislatures in 14 states considered new utility rates, or changes to existing rates, for EV charging.

Not all actions were pro-EV. Several states considered additional fees for EV owners.

“As projections for the number of electric vehicles sold continues to rise, we see many states taking pre-emptive steps to help facilitate and prepare for this transition,” noted Heather Brutz, Clean Transportation Program Manager at NCCETC. “This includes directly funding vehicles and infrastructure, streamlining the permitting process, and preparing for a transportation funding future where gasoline-powered vehicles make up a smaller percentage of vehicles on the road.”

“As states and utilities undertake grid modernization efforts, electric vehicles are consistently being included in these discussions,” said Autumn Proudlove, Manager of Policy Research at NCCETC. “Key issues under consideration in 2017 were utility rate design for electric vehicle charging and the role of utilities in deploying charging infrastructure.”

Source: NC Clean Energy Technology Center