Electric Vehicle Use Rising, CARB Says

The California Air Resources Board says petroleum use by mobile sources of emissions like passenger and commercial vehicles is expected to drop by 50 percent in the next 15 years as the use of electric vehicles rises at the same time.

The state’s fleet of passenger cars and trucks is projected to increase from the current 100,000 zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles to 4.3 million by the end of 2030, according to data presented at the Air Board’s Oct. 22 meeting.

This coincides with what the state plans will be a jump in renewable power generation from 27 percent now to 50 percent over the next 15 years.

Regarding commercial trucks in the state, the number that run on renewable fuels is expected to rise from eight percent this year to 50 percent by 2030.

Among the key actions being taken for this to happen, CARB says, are an increase in the sales of zero-emission and plug-in passenger vehicles and increasing the stringency of emissions standards for such vehicles.

Additional key actions reported include introducing zero-emission vehicles into the state’s commercial truck fleet and establishing a low nitrogen oxide emission standard that’s 90 percent lower than current standard.

After the presentation, board member Ron Roberts opined that the state shouldn’t rush into replacing current shuttle buses that run on compressed natural gas with electric ones.

“I would ask that you meet with transit officials so we have a better grasp of the functioning of public transit lines and not just rush blindly into electric buses because it’s very, very early in the evolution of that particular product,” Roberts said. He also voiced concern about issues associated with electric buses’ infrastructure, support system and operating costs.

“I would hate to have to reduce transit service to those disadvantaged communities we’ve heard about repeatedly because we’re enforcing rules that are giving us a marginal benefit,” he said.

In addition to the update on mobile emissions sources, a presentation was given on the status of California’s zero-emissions vehicle market. According to the report, the sale of zero emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles statewide went from zero percent of all vehicles in 2010 to about 3.1 percent in 2014. It stood at about 2.7 percent through the first eight months of 2015.

Regarding progress on getting infrastructure in place by 2020 for one million zero-emission vehicles, there currently are just under 6,000 public charging stations for vehicles in California, far below the 20,000 to 46,500 the state’s expected to need within the next five years.

Additionally, as of September, there are also about 1,775 charging stations at workplaces across the state, which is well under the 82,000 to 144,000 that the state is projected to need by 2020.

In order to close the gap, various actions by state agencies are or will be taken, according to the report. They include adding charging infrastructure to newly constructed buildings, public grants for infrastructure and private investments by changing companies and car manufacturers. —Mark Edward Nero

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Electric Vehicle Use Rising, CARB Says

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