Golden State Today

California has reached a significant milestone in its adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), surpassing 2 million electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles sold across the state. This achievement reinforces California's position as a leader in clean vehicle technology.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that if the incoming Trump Administration eliminates the federal ZEV tax credit, he will propose reinstating a state rebate program. The proposed initiative would be modeled after the state's previous Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP), which was phased out in 2023 after funding over 594,000 vehicles and saving more than 456 million gallons of fuel.

Newsom emphasized California's commitment to clean air and green jobs: “Consumers continue to prove the skeptics wrong – zero-emission vehicles are here to stay. We will intervene if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit, doubling down on our commitment to clean air and green jobs in California. We’re not turning back on a clean transportation future — we’re going to make it more affordable for people to drive vehicles that don’t pollute.”

In recent months, Californians have continued their support for ZEVs with 115,897 purchases in the third quarter of 2024 alone, accounting for 26.4% of all new vehicle sales in the state. The increase in demand has been supported by efforts to expand charging infrastructure across California.

The state is actively working on enhancing its electric vehicle charging network with installations of public and private chargers throughout California. Efforts include utilizing $32 million from federal funds awarded under President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for direct-current fast chargers along interstates and highways.

Furthermore, California is addressing emissions beyond personal vehicles by investing $102 million into charging stations for zero-emissions trucks along key freight corridors and allocating $500 million towards adding another 1,000 ZEV school buses.

As part of broader efforts toward sustainable transportation solutions, Governor Newsom's administration is also focusing on advancing public transit systems and improving rail infrastructure while preventing gasoline price spikes.