California Targets 5 Million Zero-Emission Vehicles by 2030

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed an executive order calling for at least 5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) to be on the state’s roads by 2030, more than three times its target for 2025.

Reaching the higher goal likely would require 40% of new vehicle sales to be ZEVs in 2030, according to the California Air Resources Board. Last year such vehicles accounted for about 5% of sales.

The $2.5 billion plan, which must be approved by California legislators, would spend $900 million on infrastructure improvements and pay out incentives to consumers at a rate of $200 million annually over the next eight years.

By 2025, the state aims to have 250,000 battery charging points—including 10,000 fast-chargers—and 200 hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles. This compares with about 14,000 EV chargers and 30 hydrogen stations currently in operation.

California currently has about 350,000 ZEVs on the road, represented by more than 40 fuel cell, plug-in hybrid and all-electric nameplates. In 2012 the state announced plans to put 1.5 million ZEVs on the road by 2025.

Brown, who is entering his last year as governor, also is proposing a $1.25 billion cap-and-trade initiative to reduce emissions. The transportation industry accounts for half of the state’s greenhouse gases and 80% of it smog-forming nitrogen oxides, according to a report issued in conjunction with the executive order.