FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/04/2021
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), previously referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, is a significant investment in upgrading the nation’s infrastructure. It is also an important step toward reaching ZETA’s goal of ensuring 100% electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2030. The bill authorizes and appropriates essential funding for electric vehicle charging supply equipment (EVSE) and zero-emission school buses, facilitates investments in domestic manufacturing, and strengthens the resilience of our domestic advanced battery supply chain. These EV provisions are a helpful step forward in electrifying the transportation system, which is the single greatest opportunity to decarbonize our economy – and improve public health, restore American auto leadership, and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs at the same time.
“The IIJA is a historic investment in the EV sector,” said Joe Britton, ZETA’s Executive Director. “Building hundreds of thousands of new charging stations will facilitate electric vehicle consumer adoption, especially in rural, hard-to-reach areas. And, by replacing gas-powered buses – some of the transportation sector’s most-polluting vehicles – with electric alternatives, we will reduce emissions and improve public health, particularly along urban and lower-income transportation corridors. The IIJA’s investments in domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience will also prove instrumental for the EV transition. Though the IIJA is a much-needed down payment on the United States’ long-term success in the ascendent EV sector, we must also invest in robust consumer incentives if we are to ensure widespread EV adoption in the United States.”
President Biden's American Jobs Plan (AJP) originally called for a $174 billion investment to "win the EV market." The AJP included funding for EV consumer incentives, charging infrastructure, advanced manufacturing investment tax credits, and critical mineral supply chain resilience. Though it includes just a portion of the AJP, the IIJA is a considerable step toward electrifying our transportation sector. The IIJA offers $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Of that total, $5 billion will be appropriated to the states through a formula program, and $2.5 billion in competitive grants from the Highway Trust Fund will be awarded to the states to develop alternative fuel corridors, including electric, hydrogen, and natural gas fueling infrastructure. These funds will be prioritized for rural, disadvantaged, and frontline communities. The IIJA will also invest $5 billion for procuring low- and zero-emission school buses; at least half of this funding will be allocated strictly for zero-emission buses. The legislation also authorizes additional funding for advanced energy-related manufacturing, critical material supply chain resilience projects, and studies related to EV deployment and scaling.
ZETA is optimistic that a subsequent budget reconciliation package will further invest in the EV sector in order to fully achieve President Biden's goal of winning the EV market. As ZETA outlined in a letter to Congress on July 27, additional investments are required to incentivize consumer purchases of new and used light-, medium-, and heavy-duty EVs, fully electrify the federal fleet and our transit and school buses, and further subsidize additional charging infrastructure and domestic EV manufacturing.
“Without a doubt, additional incentives in the EV market are needed and should be created through the budget reconciliation process,” said Britton. “More investments in the EV sector will accelerate EV adoption by everyday Americans, and they will catalyze the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs, helping the U.S. win the clean transportation race.”
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.
