FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/21/2021

‍Atlanta, Georgia – This morning, Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) Vice President Andres Hoyos joined Fulton County Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, EVHybridNoire’s Dr. Shelley Francis, and Georgia State University’s Dr. Deirdre Oakley for a virtual press conference to call for significant federal investments in electric vehicles (EVs) and clean transportation infrastructure in the Build Back Better Act. 

“Though the Senate’s passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was an important first step, further funding through the Build Back Better Act is needed to win the EV market,” said Hoyos. “With the right federal support, Georgia’s workers and consumers will greatly benefit as the EV market expands.”

Congress has the opportunity to play a vital role in expanding the domestic EV market. To maximize public benefits as the EV market grows, the federal government must expand EV consumer incentives through the Build Back Better Act. Consumer incentives have been proven to accelerate the adoption rate of EVs, and they will make EVs more accessible to Americans of all incomes. The existing 30D tax credit’s per-manufacturer cap should be removed, and these credits should apply at the point-of-sale, rather than months later when the consumer is filing their taxes. Both new and used EVs should be eligible to ensure that EV incentives are available to all consumers, not just the minority of consumers who purchase new vehicles.

These consumer incentives must also not be unnecessarily narrowed, which would diminish their public benefits. These consumer incentives should not be burdened by low manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) or adjusted gross income (AGI) caps, which would deter EV adoption, limit the growth of the used EV market, and slow down our fight against climate change. Furthermore, these consumer incentives should apply equitably across vehicle models and manufacturers. Georgia’s workers should gain from the expansion of the EV market too, not just workers in traditional auto-manufacturing hubs. Consumer incentives can best deliver environmental, public health, economic, and job creation benefits when they are broad and accessible to everyone.

“Georgia is a case study in how limiting consumer incentives can slow EV adoption,” continued Hoyos. “Georgia used to have the second-highest EV market share in the country. Then, after the state legislature cut Georgia’s EV consumer incentive in 2015, EV sales fell by a staggering 83%. For these reasons, Georgia’s federal delegation should support broad and accessible EV consumer incentives in the Build Back Better Act, which will support Georgia’s economy, public health, and climate.”‍

About ZETA‍

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) is a federal coalition focused on advocating for 100% EV sales by 2030. ZETA is committed to enacting policies that drive EV adoption, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, secure American global EV manufacturing dominance, drastically improve public health, and significantly reduce carbon pollution.