Electric Vehicles

The Sierra Club is working to accomplish a widespread shift to plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) that rely on little to no oil at all. EVs are much cleaner than conventional vehicles today, even accounting for the emissions from electricity sources. As we shift to more renewable sources of power, EVs become even cleaner over time. Our work includes advocacy for federal, state, and local policies that will make EVs more accessible; a push for the utility sector to invest in EV programs; outreach to expose the public to the benefits of EVs; campaigning for transit agencies and school districts to invest in electric buses; and advocacy for Volkswagen’s dieselgate settlement funds to be invested in EV charging stations, zero emission buses and trucks, and solutions for neighborhoods hit hardest by pollution.

National Drive Electric Week

National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) is a nationwide celebration to increase public awareness of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and more. Started in 2011 as National Plug-In Day with the simple idea to hold simultaneous events across the country on the same day, NDEW has now expanded to an entire week of events and changed the name to emphasize the thing we all want to do: drive with zero emissions. To find out more, visit the NDEW website here.

 Zero emission buses

Transit agencies nationwide are starting to make the switch to zero emission buses. These buses are cleaner and quieter and are particularly beneficial for low-income neighborhoods  and communities of color that are disproportionately exposed to air pollution. We work with partner organizations and community advocates to push transit agencies (and even some school districts) to ramp up their shift to these cleaner buses, which improve public health and lower fuel and maintenance costs.

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