Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) recently signed the Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2017, increasing the state’s electric vehicle (EV) excise tax credit program.
“I am proud to sign our Clean Cars Act into law today,” Hogan said. “This important legislation increases the state’s investment in the electric vehicle tax credit program by 40 percent and doubles the charging station rebate to further incentivize Marylanders to take advantage of this innovative technology. We thank the legislature for working with our administration on these bipartisan efforts to protect our environment and grow clean energy investment and jobs.”
Maryland, along with nine other states, adopted the California Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Under the mandate, the percentage of fuel cell-electric, plug-in hybrid-electric and battery-electric vehicles automakers sell must increase steadily through model year 2025.
There are currently 30 models of electric vehicles on the market, including hybrids.
The Association of Global Automakers praised the bill, saying such initiatives increase consumer demand for green cars.
More states need to pass EV laws, the association said, while automakers invest in new technologies.
In order to meet the mandate, Maryland must sell more than 280,000 ZEVs. Only 8,000 EVs were sold in the state over the past seven years.