Abstract
Infrastructure Necessity
Excessive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cause the Earth to warm unnaturally, which creates natural disasters, ruins ecosystems, and eventually could make the Earth uninhabitable. Many nations have reacted with the goal to reduce GHG emissions by 50% or more by 2030. As the second highest GHG emitter, the United States is in dire need of change. Its largest emitting sector is transportation, and there 60% of the emissions come from automobiles. The transition to electric vehicles is crucial to reduce US emissions by 50%. With the large recent influx of electric vehicles, there is a shortage of chargers. This policy statement proposes improvements to the current electric vehicle infrastructure; increasing charger accessibility with a focus on creating more public charging stations, reducing the time and cost per charge, plus introducing credits and rebates to accelerate charger deployment. To reach the 50% emissions reduction by 2030, the US must implement these proposals quickly.
Charger Accessibility
The EV charger number has not kept up with EV deployment. The US ratio of EVs to chargers is 18:1 (Armstrong, 2021). This poses a large problem because EVs typically take about 12 hours for a full charge with the standard charger. Another issue is the existence of proprietary chargers. For example, Tesla chargers are only compatible with Tesla vehicles. Fortunately, the US has taken action to improve the EV infrastructure. The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) includes $7.5 billion in investment to EV charging infrastructure- $5 billion is allocated to the states and $2.5 billion is allocated to disadvantaged areas (White House, 2021). These areas include both rural and minority areas; rural areas have a disproportionate distance between EV chargers and minority areas have fewer chargers than their white counterparts. All states have been successful in getting their plans approved by the US Department of Transportation. Since states have freedom with the given funds, the policy proposals focus on what action each state should take. I propose that in 2024 states begin mandating that 5% of all spots in parking lots have EV chargers, with a 5% increase each subsequent year. This number is initially low because it will be difficult to fit all existing lots with this number of chargers. I suggest that locations such as apartments and commercial areas be prioritized. It is often difficult for younger and single individuals to have their own EV chargers due to housing limitations. Next, locations such as hotels, restaurants, sporting event venues, and other areas where cars are idle for long periods should be targeted. I also propose all public EV charging stations have appropriate adapters to ensure universal access for all EV owners. Additionally, the municipal requirements for charging permits must be loosened to accelerate public EV charger installation. There often is a long approval time, and this needs to become more efficient. Lastly, municipalities need to provide chargers for handicapped vehicles and evaluate their own city demographics to ensure all demographics have ample access to EV chargers.
User Optimization
In addition to accessibility encouraging EV deployment, optimization of user experience will increase EV usage. User optimization includes two main aspects of EV charging: timing, and pricing.
There currently are three types of EV chargers, level one, two, and three. Level one chargers are plugged into a normal outlet and can take up to 20 hours for a full charge. Level two chargers are typically homeowner chargers, they take approximately12 hours for a full charge. Level 3 chargers can charge a car fully in as low as 20 minutes, but if overused can damage the car battery. This makes them ideal for long travels or other less-frequent uses (Wadhwani, 2023). I propose that all public and domestic charger installations in the United States be level 2, with exceptions for interstate level 3 charging stations. This will ensure EV owners a reliable charging time and will make them more comfortable when using their vehicles for commutes and for those who do not own their own charger. Additionally, I propose an increase in public investment in battery durability. By developing stronger batteries that have a longer range and a decreased susceptibility to level 3 chargers, we can offer EV buyers greater convenience.
There currently is a lack of a universal pricing system. According to Matt Ryan Weber of Investopedia, “Pricing at commercial chargers is often not directly comparable because there are different pricing systems…This produces charging costs that vary considerably…” (2022). Additionally, many believe that EVs are more expensive to own than electric vehicles. While they are more expensive to purchase, they can save owners as much as $1,000 per year with lower fuel costs. Their lower maintenance cost is another benefit. I propose that the U.S. Department of Transportation work with the leading EV charging companies to develop a universal method of charging vehicles. The U.S. Department of Transportation also must develop infomercials to educate the U.S. population on owning an electric vehicle. By giving citizens a reliable charging time combined with educating them on the financial benefits of owning an electric vehicle, we can further accelerate the integration of EVs into US transportation.
Government Stimulation
Financial encouragement can be achieved with government incentives to purchase EVs and installation of home chargers. The current government incentives for buyers exist as a $7,500 tax credit per vehicle. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, revised a $7,500 tax credit for purchasers of American-made EVs below a specified price. To help the domestic economy, the credit does not apply to foreign made vehicles. There also is a price cap on the more expensive vehicles (Liberto, 2022). I propose that the United States allows a $3,500 credit for foreign vehicles until 2026. Given the urgency of the climate situation, I believe it is necessary to prioritize the mass distribution of EVs rather than focusing on the domestic economy. However, the 2026 limit and the lower credit still prevents the U.S. from becoming dependent on foreign countries. Secondly, I propose that the credit’s price limitation be removed. The credit is fixed regardless of vehicle price, thus making the vehicle price irrelevant to the credit. Government incentives for home installation of EV chargers are important, too. There is currently a 30% credit up to $1,000 for home installation (Campisi, 2023).[1] It covers about half the cost in most scenarios. However, some houses require new electric panels in their garages, making installation costs climb to around $4,000. This makes installation very difficult for younger people who are not yet able to afford these higher costs, even when they are financially beneficial in the long run.
For housing installation, I have three proposals. First, states must mandate all new houses to be fitted with electric paneling. They are much cheaper to install when building the house rather than re-fitting a garage to make space for a panel. States like Illinois are already in the process of passing such mandates. Next, states must offer a $500 minimum credit for EV charger installations for homeowners of certain incomes. Lastly, there should be more infomercials or newspaper ads about these credits to make the citizens aware of the potential benefits. All these proposals work to incentivize and facilitate ownership of EVs in homes and for those living in apartments or single housing.
Moving Forward
A focus on charger accessibility, user optimization, and government support for EVs can have a large effect on the U.S. 50% carbon emission reduction goal for 2030. The White House aims to have 50% of car sales be electric by 2030. This requires stronger EV infrastructure. Charger accessibility will allow users to be more comfortable in using EVs, especially when traveling. User optimization centers around making EV car owners’ lives more efficient by streamlining charging timing and cost. Government support of EV’s allows incentivizing EV purchases through credits for EVs and home chargers. Since the US high emissions are chiefly from the transportation sector, a focus on electric vehicles will greatly reduce its emissions. At the same time, it is important to adopt a holistic approach to climate change. There needs to be a universal movement to make electric vehicles more mainstream. Currently, the United States is working on free trade deals in the electric vehicle industry to accelerate production from both continents. This would be a large step towards lowering the price for all EV production (Tax Notes Staff, 2023). The European Union, especially France and Germany, has focused on increasing the number of publicly available EV chargers while also devoting much investment in the industry. This mutual effort signifies the global realization that change must be made. Just as countries are making efforts, individuals must too. If it is in our financial power, we must all consider buying electric vehicles. Not only will they save us up to $1,000 each year, they also greatly reduce our emissions. As time passes, these vehicles will become cheaper and more efficient. Electric vehicles will be the future of sustainable transportation. The time for global action is now.
Works Cited
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Infographics, 15 Dec. 2021, www.statista.com/chart/26325/ratio-electric-vehicles-to-public-charging-points/.
Forbes, 18 Jan. 2023. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/ev-charger-tax-credit
“Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan.” The White House, 13 Dec. 2021, www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/13/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-electric-vehicle-charging-action-plan/.
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