Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom recently visited a Tesla supercharger during Earth Week to showcase California's progress in expanding its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The governor emphasized the state's commitment to building a more extensive charging network and Tesla's initiative to make its fast chargers accessible to non-Tesla vehicles.

In a tweet, the California Governor's office announced, "Huge news for California drivers – the Tesla supercharging network is opening to non-Tesla vehicles! This adds thousands of fast chargers to California's EV charging network, bringing us to more than 105,000 public EV chargers – including 10,000 fast chargers – and counting."

According to the California Energy Commission (CEC), following the Governor's executive order in 2020 to transition all new car sales to zero-emission vehicles by 2035, the state has seen a significant increase in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales. California currently boasts 105,000 public or shared private EV chargers in addition to over 500,000 at-home chargers. The state has also approved a $1.9 billion plan to enhance its charging infrastructure.

The CEC reported that 25% of all new cars sold in California last year were ZEVs, with a total of 1,846,874 ZEV sales to date. Moreover, California accounts for 34% of new ZEVs sold in the U.S., positioning the state as a key player in the EV market. If California were a country, it would rank fourth in EV sales globally, trailing only behind China, the U.S., and Germany.

California's commitment to promoting EV adoption is further evidenced by the availability of grants and rebates for low-income residents, aimed at making electric transportation more accessible and affordable.

With one fast charging station now available for every five gas stations in the state, California continues to lead the way in fostering a sustainable transportation ecosystem.