I've been telling everyone lately that electric vehicles (EVs) are "the next big thing." Whether you agree or not, the markets for these vehicles are growing, costs are falling, and governments are calling for more. Especially in Massachusetts. To be clear however, I'm not saying we need more cars. We just need cleaner cars.
Why is this important? Electric motors use their energy more efficiently than any combustion engine ever can. Higher efficiency, higher recyclability, lower pollution, and lower costs mean reduced climate emissions, benefits to your wallet, and benefits to your lungs. People are realizing that these benefits add up to a better deal for consumers too.
But rather than harping on why electric vehicles are awesome, let me highlight some major reasons we are going to see a lot more of them on Massachusetts roads soon.
The "Travel Provision" Has Officially Expired
This one is for the policy wonks. Massachusetts is a "ZEV state," which means our state has adopted the stricter zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) regulations created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The CARB regulations require that a percentage of the vehicles sold by auto manufacturers in ZEV states need to be zero-emission vehicles, but until now, there has been a provision (loophole) known as the "travel provision." This provision allowed manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles in any ZEV state and bank credits in all the states. The Union of Concerned Scientists has a great post explaining this further here. What this loophole meant in practice was California got a whole bunch of EVs and the rest of the ZEV states were stuck with table scraps. Great for California, but not so great for anyone wanting to buy an EV in Massachusetts. Massachusetts dealerships don't always have them in stock.
The model-year 2018 vehicles were the last vehicles able to take advantage of the travel provision. Auto manufacturers are now required to make the sales of 2019 models in each ZEV state in order to remain compliant. This should mean we can expect Massachusetts dealerships to start receiving more from their manufacturers. They will likely start marketing these vehicles more aggressively, offer previously unavailable deals, and otherwise make attempts to move these vehicles off the lot and onto Massachusetts roads.
Public Charging Stations Are Being Built Quickly in Massachusetts
Ideally it would be as easy to find a charging station as you can find a gas station today. We are quickly moving in that direction in Massachusetts. There are thousands here already, but we still need a lot more. Rural residents drive farther, and the reality today is that a city-slicker like me would have an easier time finding a charge. The flip-side is that wiring up a charger is a whole lot easier than installing a gas station. Charging stations are being built in parking garages, in residential driveways, in retail parking lots, at highway rest stops, workplaces and recreational areas, and attached to street-light posts. Our state's two large utilities (Eversource & National Grid) are installing pre-wiring for public charging stations all over the state and in some cases also installing or offering rebates for the charging equipment itself. If the current utility proposals move forward and are combined with those already approved, utility investment will total well over $200 million.
As part of Volkswagen's payment for brazenly cheating emissions tests, the company has created "Electrify America," a new brand under which public charging infrastructure is being installed all over the country. Making use of another portion of VW settlement dollars, Massachusetts has revitalized the MassEVIP program with over $5 million, to help businesses, universities, and municipalities install EV charging equipment and electrify fleets.
Further, the MA Board of Building Regulations & Standards is considering "EV-Ready spaces" provisions in updates to the state building code. A similar provision may make its way into the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. And the U.S. Green Building Council is piloting the offer of LEED credits for supporting green vehicles.
Calls from the Commission on the Future of Transportation
In 2018, Governor Baker assembled a Commission on the Future of Transportation, and charged this commission with outlining a comprehensive vision for our state's transportation system. How can we move people and goods most efficiently, equitably, and rectify transportation's massive contribution to climate change while also creating a system more resilient to climate impacts? It's a large question that yielded a large report.
One chief takeaway from that report was the need to electrify every vehicle on Massachusetts roads by 2045. Gateway cities were also highlighted for some special attention, and an overall theme of "moving people, not vehicles" was seen throughout the Commissions's report. If this report is kept front & center in the state's transportation planning going forward, more EVs will be one key piece of a cleaner, more resilient, and equitable system for all residents of the Commonwealth.
Costs Falling, Options Growing
The costliest component to an electric vehicle is the battery, and battery costs are falling rapidly. GreenTechMedia predicts EV-cost competitiveness with combustion engines between 2017-2020. Two months into 2019 that seems to be holding true, and today, the Massachusetts state rebate (MOR-EV) still offers up to $1,500 on top of federal tax incentives. Combine those with a program like Drive Green from Green Energy Consumers Alliance and you can get a real steep discount on an electric vehicle. All the major auto manufacturers are either already producing EVs or are announcing new electric models coming soon. There's also a growing market for affordable used EVs, with prices often marked down more than 50%.
To truly address pollution and congestion issues, we need to move more people in fewer cars. But for many people, not having a vehicle is just not a viable option right now. Thankfully, there is a fast-growing number of options for clean vehicles at increasingly competitive prices. We sure need them.
- Kevin O'Brien, Program Associate, Massachusetts Sierra Club