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Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=520

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 24, 2013

NEWS RELEASE 13-70

CONTACT;

Dave Clegern
(916) 322-2990
dclegern@arb.ca.gov

These governors have joined forces to revolutionize the
automobile market by promoting zero-emission vehicles. The use of
these clean vehicles will reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
improve air quality and public health, enhance energy diversity,
save consumers money, and promote economic growth.

Zero-emission vehicles include battery-electric vehicles, plug-in
hybrid-electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel-cell-electric
vehicles. These technologies can be used in passenger cars,
trucks and transit buses.  

Clearing a path
This multi-state effort is intended to expand consumer awareness
and demand for zero-emission vehicles. As a first step in this
plan, the governors of California, Connecticut, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont signed
a cooperative agreement. In this agreement, the governors
identify specific actions they will promote within their states
and joint cooperative actions these states will undertake to help
build a robust national market for electric and hydrogen-powered
cars. 

For example, the governors agreed to pursue the following
efforts:

•	Harmonize building codes to make it easier to construct new
electric car charging stations  
•	Lead by example by including zero emission vehicles in their
public fleets 
•	Evaluate and establish, where appropriate, financial and other
incentives to promote zero emission vehicles
•	Consider establishing favorable electricity rates for home
charging systems; and 
•	Develop common standards for roadway signs and charging
networks.

The eight states will develop an action plan over the next six
months that will include many of these strategies and others.

Creating a market
These states are among a group of states which have adopted rules
requiring about 15 percent of new vehicles sold to be
zero-emission vehicles by 2025. Collectively, the eight signatory
states represent more than 23 percent of the U.S. car market, and
expect to have at least 3.3 million of these vehicles operating
on their roadways by that time. 

The market demand created by these state programs can help lower
zero-emission vehicle costs through economies of scale and expand
the range of product lines available to consumers. 

The cars are here now
U.S. electric car sales in 2012 more than tripled to about 52,000
from 17,000 in 2011.  Motorists bought more than 40,000 plug-in
cars in the first and second quarters of 2013. 

There are currently 16 zero-emission vehicle models available
from eight automotive manufacturers; nine run completely on
batteries, two on hydrogen fuel cells and five are plug-in hybrid
electric vehicles that can run on gasoline as well as battery
power. The number of models is expected to increase for model
year 2014 and beyond. Several electric vehicle models have won
awards for safety, performance and customer satisfaction over the
past couple of years.

There are already more than 6,700 charging stations open to the
public in the signatory states. By 2015 nearly every major
automaker will have zero emission vehicles available for sale or
lease, and more than 200,000 zero-emission vehicles are expected
to be on the road across the U.S.

A healthier environment and economy
These clean vehicles will provide a major foothold in the battle
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and their consequences, which
include sea level rise, increases in extreme weather, and
wildfire intensity. 

There are economic advantages as well. Electricity is the most
widely available source of power and typically costs about
two-thirds less than gasoline on a per-mile basis. By 2025, the
average zero-emission vehicle driver will save nearly $6,000 in
fueling costs over the life of the car. 

Just in California, data provided by the state Community Colleges
shows 46,000 businesses now related to advanced transportation,
and nearly 600,000 jobs in that field. These include jobs
building and servicing vehicles and infrastructure. 

The cooperative agreement, or “Memorandum of Understanding,” is
available at: 

http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/2013/8s_zev_mou.pdf

Eight Governors on the importance of the Zero Emission Vehicle
MOU:

California: "This is not just an agreement, but a serious and
profoundly important commitment," said California Governor Edmund
G. Brown Jr. "From coast to coast, we're charging ahead to get
millions of the world's cleanest vehicles on our roads."

Connecticut: Governor Dannel P. Malloy said, “This initiative is
consistent with Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy and
our focus on providing cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable power
for our residents and businesses.  As part of that strategy we
are working in the transportation sector to encourage the use of
alternative fuels and alternative vehicles.  In keeping with that
approach, we launched a grant program to speed construction of
200 publicly available electric vehicle charging stations by
early 2014 – which will end ‘range anxiety’ in our state and
increase public interest in owning zero-emission vehicles.”

Maryland: "We are excited to be collaborating with other states
to ensure the success of our zero-emission vehicle programs. This
effort complements work already underway through the
Transportation Climate Initiative, in which Maryland and other
East Coast states are working to develop a robust charging
station network along the I-95 corridor that will permit
long-distance travel in electric cars throughout the region. The
transition to these advanced technology vehicles will support our
efforts to achieve our air quality and climate change goals, and
will enhance energy security by reducing our dependence on
foreign oil,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. “This is a
critical part of our efforts to achieve Maryland’s long-term 2050
goal to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions 90 percent from
2006 levels.”

Massachusetts: “Increasing electric vehicles in our fleet is a
critical component of our efforts in Massachusetts to address air
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation
sector and grow the clean energy economy,” said Governor Deval
Patrick. “Diversifying transportation fuels and providing drivers
with options will help reduce vulnerability to price swings in
imported oil that hurt consumers and our economy.”

New York: “This agreement is a major step forward to reducing the
emissions that are causing our climate to change and unleashing
the extreme weather that we are experiencing with increased
frequency,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.  “This collaboration
builds on New York’s Charge NY initiative, which is creating a
statewide network of 3,000 charging stations by 2018 and will
provide New Yorkers with a convenient and affordable alternative
to increasingly expensive gasoline and diesel.”

Oregon: “This initiative will help states reduce
transportation-related air pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions, enhance energy diversity, save consumers money, and
promote economic growth,” said Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber.
“It also directly supports Oregon’s 10-Year Energy Action Plan
and will spur innovation that helps us to meet our goals.”

Rhode Island: “Rhode Island has already started taking steps and
one includes the installation of charging stations throughout the
state. We are determined to develop a clean and efficient
transportation infrastructure for the future,” Governor Lincoln
D. Chafee said. “Through the Zero Emission Vehicle MOU, we have
created a vital partnership that will reduce our reliance on
imported oil, boost our economy, and save money at the pump. This
is an important collaboration that works toward our common goal
of protecting our environment.”

Vermont: “This collaboration is about partnerships. The signatory
states and our neighbors are already coordinating to ensure a
viable regional infrastructure for electric cars through programs
such as the Transportation Climate Initiative in the Northeast
and Mid-Atlantic region and the West Coast Electric Highway. The
states are committed to working with the automakers, refueling
infrastructure suppliers, the electric utilities and other
partners to ensure the success of zero-emission vehicle programs
from all of our perspectives,” said Vermont Governor Peter
Shumlin.