California Details ZEV Plan Through 2025

California, which aims to put 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025, has issued an action plan for state agencies to get there.

The 28-page ZEV plan, which can be viewed HERE, follows an executive order from Gov. Jerry Brown a year ago to promote battery and fuel cell-powered vehicles. The action plan lists 120 specific actions many of them already being implemented under four broad areas: infrastructure, consumer awareness, fleets and jobs/investments.

For example, the plan requires that state departments boost the proportion of zero-emission light-duty vehicles in their fleets to 10% by 2015 and at least 25% by 2020. The program orders standardized purchasing rules for ZEVs and strategies to pool the purchase of no-emission vehicles with California and with adjoining states.

Another goal is to create a statewide ZEV charging and fueling system that delivers universal access and a clear pricing for drivers anywhere in California. The plan also directs agencies to streamline and facilitate ZEV-related licensing and permits.

To encourage consumers to buy ZEVs, California vows to continue such programs as demonstration rides, rebates to buyers and "attractive non-monetary incentives" such preferential parking and access to special expressway lanes. The plan also aims to support schemes to "decouple" the cost of batteries from the price of an EV at the time of purchase, including creation of a market for used EV batteries.

The plan pledges to continue support for ZEV-related companies through funding, tax breaks and help with state permits and licensing. It also confirms California's continuing support for R&D related to fuel cell research and other ZEV-related technologies.