Over a decade ago eight states signed onto a memorandum of understanding that, among other things, set a collective goal of getting 3.3 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2025, an ambitious goal at a point when there were only roughly 200,000 EVs on roadways.
In 2013 there were 16 EV models available to the public. But the 3.3 million goal has been met; in 2025, the number of models stands at 154, according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center.
The eight states – California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont – were joined by New Jersey when its new governor, Phil Murphy, signed on in 2018. The next year, Maine joined and made the coalition 10 states.
The states adopted similar incentives and regulation in support of their goal. By 2020 the upward curve of EV sales grew steeper. Improvements to EV charger infrastructure, purchase incentives, adding EVs to public fleets and supporting workplace charging were among the many initiatives that the states used to further EV purchases.
On March 10, according to a release from Murphy’s office, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management released a report that showed EV sales had hit the 3.3 million vehicle target. The organization, a nonprofit founded in 1967, supports programs to reduce the adverse public health and environmental impacts of air pollution and climate change.
Murphy said in a release, “As more drivers go green, New Jersey will continue to work toward making electric vehicles accessible to all and expanding the state’s charging infrastructure to support regional demand.”
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
