Not only are utilities at the center of the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using renewable energy resources to generate electricity, they also play an instrumental role in transportation electrification. Regulators across the country view utility investments in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure as the key to igniting increased EV ownership and use.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector is now the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the level of pollution caused by the generation of electricity. In response, state legislatures across the country are taking steps to incentivize the purchase of EVs, including directing utilities to file transportation electrification plans as a means of increasing the availability of EV charging infrastructure, a barrier to EV ownership. States are counting on the availability of publicly accessible charging stations as an effective way to meet an unfulfilled demand for EVs, while exploring various, but similar, approaches to engaging utilities in this effort.
To begin, this article explains generally how EVs work and the potential for advances in EV technology. The article then discusses the growth of the EV market and how data on greenhouse gas emissions has influenced public perceptions and public policy. Next, the article discusses transportation electrification plans and how states are using these plans to engage utilities in the effort to increase the availability of electricity as a power source for vehicles.