More electric vehicles in the state would produce multiple benefits

If three in 10 vehicles in Pennsylvania were electric, the state would gain nearly $2.8 billion in benefits, according to a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plan. 

Benefits include an increase in consumer savings, reducing respiratory diseases, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and creating jobs.

There are approximately 8 million passenger cars registered in the state, but only about 15,000 are electric vehicles.

In Pennsylvania, transportation generates 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Interest in electric vehicles is increasing, but until now there’s been no statewide plan to foster a cohesive approach,” DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said. “We developed research-based strategies for government and private planning and policy decisions to help increase the opportunities and benefits of electric vehicles across the state.”

DEP’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap lists seven strategies to start to overcome challenges in two years and six other strategies to overcome challenges within five years or longer.

The two-year strategies are establishing statewide electric sales goals, raising awareness of electric vehicles among car dealerships, increasing investments in charging stations, expanding grants for municipalities, businesses and organizations, developing a consumer education campaign, creating an education program and a cooperative program to support fleet purchases, and developing policy or legislation to encourage utilities to invest in transportation electrification.