Elaine O’Grady, NESCAUM Clean Transportation Director, said: “State leadership on electric vehicles has produced incredible results in the past decade, exceeding many expectations. When states work together, they can achieve ambitious goals to reduce air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of their residents. We look forward to seeing what the next ten years can bring for clean transportation.”

The decision to publicly set this target was an early commitment to advance transportation electrification, and a show of leadership by these ten states. There were only 16 electric vehicle models on the market in the U.S. in 2013 – all smaller vehicles and many only available in California. Now, there are over 150 models available to U.S. consumers in nearly every class of vehicle including compact cars, large sedans, crossovers, SUVs, minivans, and pickups. This expansion of choice is tied to the commitment of these ten states and their market-enabling programs that helped to build the EV market that exists in the U.S. today.

In addition to setting a 3.3 million vehicle target, the MOU also anticipated the importance of charging infrastructure to meet the needs of electric vehicle drivers. Both private and public charging stations have kept up with the pace of growth of EVs, with more than ten times as many charging ports available now compared to 2014. The MOU also established a task force, run by NESCAUM, which has become a critical resource for inter-state coordination in developing and implementing electric vehicle policies such as EV purchase incentives and consumer awareness campaigns.

Paul Miller, NESCAUM Executive Director, said: “Time and again, we’ve heard that the states’ clean vehicle programs are unrealistic. Yet time and again, the states have shown that when they set ambitious goals, then cooperate in support of them, success follows. Congratulations to these states for their accomplishments and leadership.”

The ten states that signed the MOU are: California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont.

Governors Reflect on Reaching this Milestone

“Thanks to the vision we set forth over a decade ago, consumers in California can now choose from many different models of clean cars. Working together with states across the country, more zero-emission vehicles and chargers are on our roads than ever before, creating cleaner air and healthier communities.” - Governor Gavin Newsom of California

“In 2013, Connecticut took the bold step of joining several states in committing to put 3.3 million EVs on the road by 2025. I’m proud to stand with our partners today, recognizing the benefits of regional collaboration to celebrate how collectively we have met this historic milestone.” - Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut

“I’m proud to celebrate the success of our states’ collaboration on making transportation cleaner and preventing harmful pollution from the largest emitting sector in the country. As more drivers go green, New Jersey will continue to work toward making electric vehicles accessible to all and expanding the state’s charging infrastructure to support regional demand.” - Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey

“Transportation electrification is key to meeting Oregon’s climate goals. Just this past November, we celebrated surpassing 100,000 registered electric vehicles in our state – a huge milestone for Oregon. Strong partnerships between states and private sector partners will be key to the nation’s success in the years to come.” - Governor Tina Kotek of Oregon

“This is a great example of what can be accomplished when states work together to achieve a shared goal. Vermont has taken strong steps toward electrifying the transportation sector. We know there is more work to do, so it will continue to be a priority of my Administration.” - Governor Phil Scott of Vermont

About NESCAUM

NESCAUM is the regional non-profit association of state air pollution control agencies in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NESCAUM serves as a technical and policy advisor to its member agencies on a wide range of air pollution and climate issues and facilitates multi-state initiatives to improve air quality and mitigate climate change. For more than three decades, NESCAUM and its members have closely collaborated with California and other states, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the automobile industry to promote low- and zero-emission vehicles.