The transportation sector is Virginia’s largest source of carbon pollution. Adopting the Advanced Clean Car Standards in 2021 was an important step towards reducing these emissions, but a robust defense of that progress—including additional, complementary policies—is needed to ensure its long-term implementation. Rapidly transitioning to electric-powered cars, trucks, trains, and buses will result in numerous public health, economic, and climate benefits. State-level policies, combined with a once-in-a-generation influx of federal funds for transportation reform, can bring these benefits to the Commonwealth and accelerate the arrival of a cleaner, more prosperous mobility future for all Virginians.

The transportation sector accounts for 53% of Virginia’s carbon dioxide emissions, and is a major source of other air pollutants, leading to negative climate, public health, and economic impacts.¹ These emissions disproportionately affect low-income populations and communities of color who breathe 66% more vehicular air pollution than white residents on average.² Vehicular particulate matter (PM_2.5) alone accounts for 92 deaths, 2,600 cases of exacerbated asthma, and 10,000 lost workdays in Virginia each year.³ When considering transportation emissions in their entirety, these emissions led to 750 premature deaths in Virginia in 2016, and the deaths associated with this pollution are 61% higher in low-income and older communities, along with communities of color.^4,5

Vehicle emissions led to 750 premature deaths in Virginia in 2016, and the deaths associated with this pollution are 61% higher in low-income and older communities, along with communities of color.

To comprehensively address vehicle pollution, cleaner transportation alternatives such as transit and rail need to be expanded, and thoughtful land use incentivized and pursued, in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled (see IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSIT, page 69, and INCREASING WALKING & BIKING, page 67), and we must simultaneously accelerate transportation electrification to eliminate emissions from the remaining trips.

While electric cars and buses are far cheaper to own in the long run, higher upfront costs keep these savings out of reach for many Virginians.^6,7,8 In addition, many households lack access to reliable charging infrastructure. Roughly 40% of U.S. households don’t park within 20 feet of an electrical outlet, making access to public EV charging essential for widespread adoption.⁹ Bridging these affordability and accessibility gaps is critical to ensuring a successful and equitable transition to electric mobility.

Every electric vehicle (EV) that replaces a gas-powered model helps clean Virginia’s air, supports the Commonwealth’s climate goals, and drives local economic development. Virginia’s growing advanced vehicle sector already supports 5,500 jobs.¹⁰ When powered by Virginia’s current electricity mix, EVs produce up to 70% fewer emissions than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.¹¹ And as Virginia’s grid gets cleaner and cleaner, the EVs on its roads will too. The more Virginia electrifies transportation, the more the entire Commonwealth benefits.

The General Assembly has taken important strides towards bringing EVs to Virginia, but these significant wins are not impervious to weakening or repeal. The legislature must defend against attempts to roll back progress towards a cleaner transportation future, while also providing thoughtfully designed financial incentives that make EVs, electric buses, and e-bikes more affordable. These policy solutions accelerate adoption rates and put electric mobility within reach for more Virginians.¹²

Reliable access to charging infrastructure will also accelerate transportation electrification. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has allocated significant funding for states to build out their charging infrastructure along major travel corridors—including $106 million in formula funding for Virginia and additional competitive grant opportunities.¹³ These funds must be spent in an equitable and efficient manner, and resources exist that can help Virginia map out and implement these infrastructure developments.^14,15 From reduced emissions and decreased dependency on foreign oil, to better air quality and the creation of new, local jobs, transitioning to EVs is good for Virginia as a whole.

¹ “State Energy-related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Tables,” U.S. Energy Information Association (March 2021). https://www.eia.gov/environment/emissions/state.

² “Inequitable Exposure to Air Pollution from Vehicles in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic,” Union of Concerned Scientists (2019). https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/inequitable-exposure-air-pollution-vehicles.

³ “An Assessment of the Health Burden of Ambient PM2.5 Concentrations in Virginia,” Industrial Economics, Incorporated (October 28, 2020). https://cee8204b-70a4-447f-9567-a8b385f8bd93.filesusr.com/ugd/b42d13_16d1da1c63e84d328db4239aea371617.pdf.

⁴ Arter et al. “Health and Equity Impact Assessment of the Transportation Climate Initiative,” Conference presentation, TRECH Project (updated February 25, 2021). https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2343/2021/02/TRECH-SlidedeckUpdateFeb2021.pdf.

⁵ “An Assessment of the Health Burden of Ambient PM2.5 Concentrations in Virginia.”

⁶ Chris Harto, “Electric Vehicle Ownership Costs: Today’s Electric Vehicles Offer Big Savings for Consumers,” Yonkers, NY: Consumer Reports (October 2020). https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/EV-Ownership-Cost-Final-Report-1.pdf.

⁷ James Horrox and Matthew Casale, “Electric Buses in America: Lessons from Cities Pioneering Clean Transportation,” U.S. Pirg Education Fund (October 2019). https://uspirg.org/sites/pirg/files/reports/ElectricBusesInAmerica/US_Electric_bus_scrn.pdf.

⁸ “Virginia Drives Electric: Benefits, Barriers, and Policies Needed for Widespread EV Adoption in Virginia,” Generation180 (November 2020). https://generation180.org/virginia-drives-electric-2020-download-page.

⁹ D. Hall & M. Nicholas, “Lessons Learned on Early Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Deployments,” International Council on Clean Transportation (2018). https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/ZEV_fast_charging_white_paper_final.pdf. “Advanced Energy Employs 93,200 in Virginia.” Advanced Energy Economy. Accessed (June 22, 2022). https://info.aee.net/2021-state-jobs-fact-sheets.

¹⁰ “Advanced Energy Employs 93,200 in Virginia.” Advanced Energy Economy. Accessed (June 22, 2022). https://info.aee.net/2021-state-jobs-fact-sheets.

¹¹ “Alternative Fuels Data Center: Emissions from Hybrid and Plug-in Electric Vehicles,” U.S. Department of Energy (2019). https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.html.

¹² “Electric Vehicles for All: An Equity Toolkit,” Greenlining Institute (August 3, 2016). https://greenlining.org/resources/electric-vehicles-for-all.

¹³ “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – 5-Year National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding by State,” Federal Highway Administration. (February 10, 2022). https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/evs_5year_nevi_funding_by_state.cfm.

¹⁴ “Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission Report to the Virginia General Assembly Report: Policy Proposals Governing Public Electric Utility Programs to Accelerate Widespread Transportation Electrification in the Commonwealth pursuant to Chapter 268 of the 2021 Virginia Acts of Assembly (Special Session I) (HB 2282).” 2022. https://scc.virginia.gov/getattachment/94cafe4e-3091-4e53-ae30-29d469a013a0/2022-APR-Report-on-Transportation-Electrification.pdf.

¹⁵ Ellen Robo, “Virginia Transportation Electrification Stakeholder Process Report PROCESS SUMMARY and POLICY PROPOSALS about This Report Facilitation Team and Report Authors Modeling Team and Report Authors.” (2022). https://scc.virginia.gov/getattachment/24324795-3562-4f1c-8ac8-1c3c68e9fcdf/2022-Transportation-Electrification-Report.pdf.