The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Secretary Jim Trogdon released a video last week, discussing a recently developed plan to increase the state’s number of zero-emission vehicles to at least 80,000 by 2025.
“Zero-emission vehicles will improve the air we breathe, allow for greater mobility and grow our clean energy economy,” Trogdon said. “ZEVs are a new technology that is disrupting the transportation industry. That’s why this plan is important – how do we prepare for and leverage disruptive technologies?”
Currently, the state hosts just 9,600 fully electric vehicles. However, Gov. Roy Cooper last year issued an Executive Order committing the state to address climate change and move to a greener economy. Part of that involves directing NCDOT to develop the new plan, which includes strategies to increase electric vehicle use through promoting public awareness and education about electric vehicles, making ownership of these vehicles more convenient through measures like increasing numbers of charging stations, and advancing electric vehicle-promoting policy changes.
NCDOT has consulted with stakeholders, fellow agencies, partners in private industry as well as insights from public commentary to guide the development of the plan.