CALSTART Applauds California and Coalition of States for Clean Cars and Trucks Leadership
In response to the federal government’s latest attack on California’s clean transportation programs, state leaders are taking decisive and united action.
Today, California Attorney General Bonta- joined by ten other attorneys general – filed a lawsuit challenging Congress’s effort that revoked California’s long-standing authority to set its own vehicle pollution standards (from Colorado, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington). Simultaneously, Governor Newsom issued a bold Executive Order affirming and expanding California’s commitment to advance clean transportation progress despite federal attacks.
In response to these mutually-reinforcing actions, CALSTART’s Head of Policy Trisha DelloIacono, issued the following statement:
“California, and its allied states are once again showing the nation what true climate leadership looks like. In response to federal overreach, eleven attorneys general – from states across the country – have united to defend their authority in court. At the same time, California is doubling down with bold executive action to accelerate clean transportation progress andstrengthen the state’s leadership in advancing vehicle innovation. Together, these state leaders are making it clear: they will not retreat from their commitments to economic competitiveness, job creation, and climate resilience.
“Governor Newsom’s Executive Order sends a strong signal: California is not backing down – it’s moving faster. Importantly, the Executive Order prioritizes funding for state incentive programs to deploy more clean transportation solutions across the state. It also steers state vehicle purchases to manufacturers that continue to comply with clean vehicle regulations and directs state agencies to provide recommendations on additional actions to further the state’s clean vehicle transition. These actions build on California’s decades-long legacy of environmental and economic leadership.
“We applaud these states for their forward-looking, resolute efforts to help ensure that the adoption of cleaner technologies continues at the pace needed to strengthen our economy and address the climate crisis. Strong state leadership is essential to accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels, diversifying our energy options, and advancing an industry that delivers cleaner air, economic growth and technological innovation. Today’s actions mark a pivotal moment in clean transportation history. These actions are a necessary and clear reflection of states stepping up and asserting their leadership.”
BACKGROUND:
California continues to lead the way in the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The state has surpassed 2 million ZEVs sold, with clean vehicles making up 26% of new passenger sales. In the commercial sector, adoption is expanding rapidly: over 52,500 zero-emission trucks (ZETs) have been deployed nationwide, with nearly 10,000 added in the second half of 2024, according to CALSTART’S Zeroing in on Zero Emission Trucks report. And growth is expanding beyond early-adopter states, with Maryland (439%), Georgia (247%), and New Mexico (141%) experiencing the largest increases in ZET deployments during 2024, highlighting the widening geographic reach of adoption.
And in a significant milestone for charging infrastructure, California now boasts more than 48% public and shared private EV chargers than the number of gasoline nozzles. The California Energy Commission (CEC) estimates there are about 120,000 gas nozzles in the state, compared to 178,000 public and shared private chargers.
A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its more than 240 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.
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In response to the federal government’s latest attack on California’s clean transportation programs, state leaders are taking decisive and united action. Today, California Attorney General Bonta- joined by ten other attorneys general – filed a lawsuit challenging Congress’s effort that revoked California’s long-standing authority to set its own vehicle pollution standards (from Colorado, Delaware,…