12 Jan 22
News

California governor proposes multi-billion-dollar EV investment plan

California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed a mega plan known as the “California Bluprint“, which among other things earmarks US$6.1 billion in electric vehicle (EV) investments in the US state in 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Considering that $3.9bn in EV spending was committed to the state in 2021, this amounts to $10bn in recent investment plans. Currently, the transportation sector is responsible for more than 50% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

Summing up to a grand total of $286bn, California Bluprint investments also include $3.9bn for the electrification of ports, heavy-duty trucks, school and public transit buses, $1.2 billion for 40,000 passenger EVs and 100,000 new charging stations by year end 2023, and $1bn on other zero emission vehicle initiatives.

Current state legislation bans the sales of new, internal combustion engine or gas-powered vehicles by 2035, and this has drawn zero-emission automakers to the state such as Rivian and Lordstown Motors, following in the footsteps of Tesla. Charging infrastructure players such as Volta and Ample are also readying plans. 

To some, California is known as the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” referring to deposits of the mineral in Imperial County near the Salton Sea.

Photo: California governor Gavin Newsom (copyright: Shutterstock)


 
  

Authored by: Daniel Bland