Clean Cars
We share California’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The adoption of electric and alternative fuel cars and trucks will be crucial to that effort.
Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas pollution in California, accounting for 39 percent of emissions. Four in ten Californians, more than in any other state, live close enough to a freeway or busy road, resulting in an increased risk of asthma, cancer and other health hazards (LA Times). Nearly twice as many Californians die from traffic pollution as from motor vehicle accidents. Accelerating the replacement of gasoline cars and dirty diesel trucks and buses with zero emission vehicles is critical to cleaning up the air in our state, particularly in communities historically exposed to a disproportionate share of pollution.
Charge Ahead California Campaign
Together with our partners from NRDC, Environment CA, Communities for a Better Environment and the Greenlining Institute, the “Charge Ahead California” campaign seeks to deploy over 1 million electric vehicles by 2023. If successful, California will meet its zero emission vehicle goals, creating economies of scale and setting the pace for electric car adoption throughout the country. The first million electric cars in California would result in approximately 3 million metric tons of reduced carbon pollution each year over the lifetime of the cars, and significantly improved air quality for our most vulnerable communities.
CCA was one of the sponsors of The Charge Ahead California Initiative (SB 1275), which was authored by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leόn and signed by Governor Brown in September 2014. This law will accelerate our state’s transition toward a clean economy by securing the funding needed to ensure California is the first state in the nation with one million electric vehicles. Additionally, CCA advocates both at the State Capitol and local air districts for increasing access to clean transportation in disadvantaged communities through the establishment of equity programs, such as EV car-sharing in disadvantaged communities and scrap-and-replace vouchers enabling low and moderate-income drivers to trade in polluting vehicles for advanced clean cars.
Here is one terrific testimonial for a scrap and replace program in the Central Valley: https://www.youtube.com/embed/_F7dvLatFzU
We hope to look beyond California. If we are successful here, electric vehicle technology will establish itself as a mainstream and cost-competitive technology with oil-powered vehicles, not only in California but across the nation and around the world.
For Further Reading:
Charge Ahead California 2019 Info Sheet
Support Funding for Successful Low Carbon Transportation Programs
Low Carbon Transportaion Program Fact sheet
California Delivers Low Carbon Fuel Standard Fact Sheet
