Plug In America recently unveiled a new landmark study on efforts underway to accelerate the growth of the plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market in the U.S.
“The Promotion of Electric Vehicles in the United States — A Landscape Assessment” delivers 11 key findings followed by recommendations Plug In America believes will stimulate PEV market growth.
Over 300,000 PEVs are now on America’s roads. Nearly 120,000 of those were delivered to new owners in 2014. Efforts to boost sales have become increasingly important given the vehicles’ clean air benefits and potential for eliminating the use of petroleum and other fossil fuels in personal transportation.
Focusing on the years since the latest round of PEVs were reintroduced in the U.S. in 2011, the new study by Plug In America reveals a national market that, despite deep fragmentation, shows a number of encouraging signs for future growth. During 2014, researchers assessed overall promotional efforts for the cars by interviewing key stakeholders across industry, government and allied organizations. Perhaps most dramatically, the composite view of the market that emerges points the way toward the discontinued use of petroleum for personal-vehicle propulsion in the U.S. over the next 25 years.
“The U.S. stands at the crossroads of the largest technology in personal transportation in its history,” says principal researcher Kirk Brown, Plug In America’s Director of Strategic Partnerships. “The question ahead is how do we capture this early market growth and deliver the benefits of these vehicles to all consumers, everywhere.”
The Plug In America analysis includes a comprehensive range of actions to further expand the market. Despite the compelling impact that PEVs can have on reducing or eliminating transportation pollution, the report reveals that inconsistent governmental policies form a patchwork quilt across the country. Automakers have created over two dozen PEV models, yet only a few are actually available for purchase by consumers in all 50 states.
“Consumers simply cannot fathom why the electric vehicle they’re most interested in is not available at a dealership in their home state,” says the report’s senior editor Dan Davids, Plug In America’s chair. “Our report shows that only six manufacturers collectively deliver well over 90 percent of these vehicles.”
To access Plug In America’s report, click here. Plug In America will host a webinar to discuss the report findings and recommendations on June 4, 2015. Registration details will soon be posted here.
About Plug In America: Plug In America, a San Francisco-based national nonprofit organization, works to accelerate the shift to plug-in vehicles powered by clean, affordable, domestic electricity to reduce our nation’s dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment. The organization conceived National Drive Electric Week (formerly National Plug In Day) and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering regular ride-and-drive events at leading corporations.
