A Call for Executive Action on Electric Vehicles
March 7th, 2019: Highland Park, NJ – A coalition of more than 55 organizations including environmental groups, utilities, technology companies, labor, car dealers, community organizations, and towns sent a letter to the Governor (Letter to Gov. Murphy ChargEVC & Supporters) asking for immediate action to create a market for electric vehicles in New Jersey. The coalition requests that Governor Murphy issue an Executive Order to 1) establish a rebate program for electric vehicles; and 2) resolve the two Electric Vehicle filings at the Board of Public Utilities, one of which was filed over a year ago. “Electric vehicles are recognized as the most effective way to reduce fuel and energy bills, and clean New Jersey air. It’s time for New Jersey to do more” says Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC.
The letter was organized by ChargEVC, New Jersey’s electric vehicle coalition, and also included a number of other supporters.
“We know that vehicle price and charging infrastructure are the major obstacles to electric vehicle adoption. The State of New Jersey must do more to align utility ratemaking policy with its stated goal of placing more electric vehicles on the road,” said James Appleton, President of NJCAR and Secretary of ChargEVC. He continued, “Directing the BPU to establish an electric vehicle rebate program and to start moving on EV filings that include much needed charging infrastructure are essential first steps on the road to a cleaner, greener motor vehicle fleet in New Jersey.”
A $45M rebate program for electric vehicles in 2020 would approximately double the sales rate over 2018 levels, according to ChargEVC – about what would be needed to put New Jersey on a path to achieving compliance as a Clean Car State. The Governor, per his budget address plans to divert only half of the $140M Clean Energy Funds that have previously been raided. This is one example of funds that could be used for a rebate program. Other states in the region, such as New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania have already established rebate programs for Electric Vehicles.
Last week, in a separate action, the Murphy Administration announced the first projects to be funded by the VW settlement fund: electric vehicle charging stations and support for the purchase of electric buses for New Jersey Transit in Camden. Explains Frank, “We are pleased about these first projects announced by the Department of Environmental Protection to support electrification of transportation. With our request for an Executive Order, we are pressing the Governor to do much more – jump-start a modern, electrically fueled transportation system which will bring widespread benefits to everybody. It’s core to his green energy economy strategy.”
The request for action by the Governor is widely supported. In addition to the 42 members of ChargEVC, 13 other supporting organizations signed the letter.
About ChargEVC: ChargEVC is a not-for-profit coalition of automotive retailers, electric utilities, technology companies, auto manufactures, local governments, and environmental, community and labor advocates working together to accelerate the transition to electrically fueled transportation in New Jersey. Visit chargevc.org for more information.