Governor Brown Acts to Increase Zero-Emission Vehicles

February 6th, 2018 by Fiedler Group

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed an executive order to increase the supply of zero-emission vehicles and charging and refueling stations in California on January 26th of this year. The Governor also detailed the new plan for investing $1.25 billion in cap-and-trade auction proceeds to reduce carbon pollution and improve public health and the environment.

“This executive order aims to curb carbon pollution from cars and trucks and boost the number of zero-emission vehicles driven in California,” said Governor Brown. “In addition, the cap-and-trade investments will, in varying degrees, reduce California’s carbon footprint and improve the quality of life for all.”

California is acting to dramatically reduce carbon emissions from transportation – a sector that accounts for 50 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and 80 percent of smog-forming pollutants. To continue to meet California’s climate goals and clean air standards, California is planning on fast-tracking the market for zero-emission vehicles. Today’s executive order puts into action the Governor’s call for a new target of 5 million ZEVs in California by 2030, announced in his State of the State address on January 25th, and will significantly help the vehicle charging infrastructure expansion.

The Administration is also proposing a new eight-year initiative to continue the state’s clean vehicle rebates and incite more infrastructure investments. This $2.5 billion initiative will help bring 250,000 vehicle charging stations and 200 hydrogen fueling stations to California by 2025.

The Governor’s order encourages past efforts to boost zero-emission vehicles, including: legislation signed last year and in 2014 and 2013; adopting the 2016 Zero-Emission Vehicle Plan and the Advanced Clean Cars program; hosting a Zero-Emission Vehicle Summit; launching a multi-state ZEV Action Plan; co-founding the International ZEV Alliance; and issuing Executive Order B-16-12 in 2012 to help bring 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles to California by 2025.

Fiedler Group has continuously been an industry leader in the design of retail hydrogen fueling stations. To learn more about Fiedler Group’s expertise in hydrogen fuels system design contact us today.