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Opportunities in Electrified Vehicles and EV Charging Access

Press Release
October 18, 2022

Contact: Alec Gerlach, GerlachA@c2es.org

Public & Private Stakeholders Plan for Opportunity in Electrified Vehicles and EV Charging Access

C2ES Roundtable with Michigan Stakeholders Distills Policy Roadmap on EV Expansion

Read the Brief

WASHINGTON—The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) today released a new brief aimed at accelerating expansion of electric vehicle (EV) adoption and infrastructure in Michigan—the historic home of the American auto industry. The brief also points to opportunities for skilled workforce growth from domestic battery manufacture and construction of a vast network of EV charging infrastructure.

“The transition to the low-carbon economy is one that brings with it new opportunity—including for those manufacturing communities across the country that drove U.S. innovation in the last century,” said C2ES Vice President of Policy and Outreach Brad Townsend. “The low-carbon economic transition happening in Detroit and across the entire country has the potential to become a significant global advantage for U.S. manufactured goods. But global opportunity doesn’t mean much if we don’t lay a successful foundation by building domestic markets first.”

The brief, Accelerating Vehicle Electrification in Michigan, proposes a series of policy recommendations to expand EV adoption and charging infrastructure across the state. The policies were informed by a roundtable discussion with stakeholders including companies, policymakers and community organizations.

The discussion featured considerations of equity and a focus on expanding access to electric vehicles and alternative mobility solutions for Black, indigenous, and people of color communities as well as low income communities, which have historically been underserved by transportation infrastructure.

In the brief, C2ES identifies critical outcomes and targeted policies to achieve them:

  • Expanding access to charging infrastructure: establishing state-level incentives and tax rebates/credits for purchase and installation of EV equipment to augment Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act incentives; updated building codes for EV readiness; standardization of software and hardware for interoperability; creating state-level incentives for commercial medium- and heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure to complement federal incentives under the IRA; and establishing a statewide low-carbon fuel standard.
  • Future-proofing charging infrastructure: standardizing infrastructure installed today to meet the needs of future vehicles; and incentivizing bidirectional charging technology and strategic deployment of on-site storage capacity.
  • Providing low-carbon alternative mobility solutions: improved public transportation options and reduced fares in high density regions and areas with greater concentrations of low-income residents and residents of color; and providing greater access to micromobility options like bikes and scooters.
  • Supporting zero emission vehicle (ZEV) manufacturing workforce: K-12 curricula for problem-solving and project management; collaboration with employers for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing training programs; and strategies to attract top global talent, including by providing a path to citizenship.

“With announcements of new, billion-dollar U.S. facilities coming rapidly from companies across the EV supply chain, the communities that have laid the groundwork with strong policy to support the EV workforce and drive adoption will be best positioned to attract and take advantage of their investment,” said C2ES Associate Policy Fellow Stephanie Gagnon. “As the historic home to the American auto industry, Michigan has the expertise and experience to thrive in the new electric vehicle future, but only with intentional policies to support the evolving needs of the EV workforce and to ensure that the infrastructure necessary to support the transition is accessible to everyone.”

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 About C2ES: The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) works to secure a safe and stable climate, by accelerating the global transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and a thriving, just, and resilient economy. Learn more at www.c2es.org.