Electric vehicles play an important role in California’s efforts to reach its ambitious climate and air quality goals. These vehicles, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, also play a critical role in reaching the state’s goal of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California roads by 2025.
Through the Clean Transportation Program, formerly known as the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, the California Energy Commission is investing in the charging infrastructure and technologies that are helping to drive the transition to clean, zero-emission electric vehicles throughout the state. The Energy Commission is also supporting strategic regional planning to support adoption of these vehicles.
The Energy Commission is the lead state agency working to invest in the infrastructure to charge electric vehicles, which are available in plug-in hybrid electric, and battery electric configurations.
Currently, the Energy Commission is building a corridor of connecting, conveniently-located direct current fast chargers that allows drivers of electric vehicles the freedom to travel throughout the state. This is the largest network of publicly accessible charging stations in the United States. This network allows for the rapid charging of battery electric vehicles through out every major highway and thoroughfare in the Golden State. Targeting transportation corridors allows drivers of electric vehicles to travel throughout California and conveniently charge their cars in the least amount of time possible.
Benefits of Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles have many advantages over vehicles powered by fossil fuels, including:
- Lower costs for fuel and vehicle maintenance
- More energy efficient
- Produce no tailpipe emissions
- Quiet to drive
