ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS
New Jersey Leads the Way on Electric Vehicle Adoption
Currently , there are more than 65,000 battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles registered in New Jersey . Only ten years ago , this number was less than 350 .
By Tom Worley Sr . Contributing Editor
The New Jersey Global Warming Response Act of 2007 ( updated 2019 ) requires the state to adopt measures that will result in an 80 percent reduction of harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 . In 2021 , Gov . Murphy announced an investment of $ 57 million in clean , equitable transportation projects aimed at improving air quality and reducing the effects of climate change while moving New Jersey toward 100 percent clean energy by 2050 . This investment funds projects like the deployment of electric garbage and delivery trucks , school and NJ Transit busses , and the installation of charging stations across the state .
New Jersey ’ s transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the state . Transitioning from fossil fuel vehicles to those powered by clean , renewable electricity is the greatest force to drive emissions reductions in New Jersey ’ s transportation sector and consequently , the state . Light-duty passenger vehicles ( cars , light-duty trucks and SUVs ) produce more emissions than any other transportation category on and off the road . The administration ’ s stated goal is to have 330,000 light-duty zero emissions vehicles ( ZEVs ) registered in New Jersey by the end of 2025 , and two million registered by year-end 2035 . Furthermore , they hope to have 25 percent of state-owned non-emergency vehicles electric ZEVs by end of 2025 , and 100 percent by the start of 2036 .
According to Steve Shapiro of the New Jersey Department of Transportation , “ NJDOT has purchased 51 zero emissions electric vehicles and has another 10 on order .” Shapiro continues , “ the goal is to purchase a total of 144 plugin electric vehicles ( EPHV ) by the end of 2025 ; the vehicles will be used for staff travel to meetings and construction projects .”
Bob Gordon , a commissioner of the Board of Public Utilities ( BPU ) acknowledges that in order for widespread adoption of electric vehicles to occur , a significant network of charging stations will be required at homes and workplaces as well as along travel corridors which will enable long distance driving . Gordon explains “ a public / private partnership whereby utility companies provide the backbone and private entities provide the charging stations , each with appropriate incentives to participate addresses this challenge .” He said : “ Charge up New Jersey , administered by the BPU addresses incentives for both the purchase of ZEVs and the corresponding charging stations .” The administration ’ s plan calls for the deployment of 400 public fast charging ( level 3 ) stations at 200 locations across the state , and one thousand public level 2 chargers statewide . Additionally , 15 percent of all multi-family and 20 percent of overnight lodging properties will be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations according to the plan .
Medium and heavy-duty trucks and busses account for only 4 percent of all vehicles on New Jersey ’ s roadways yet they account for a quarter of the transportation sector ’ s emissions . In New Jersey , there are more than one half million medium and heavy-duty trucks registered . Zero emissions vehicles are between two and five times more energy efficient than diesel , reduce dependence on petroleum , and substantially reduce greenhouse gases . By shifting the state ’ s reliance on diesel engines to electric powered vehicles , New Jersey can achieve its climate goals
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A fleet of electric busses equipped to accommodate the handicapped
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / Cylonphoto
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