{"id":19408,"date":"2019-05-10T16:14:02","date_gmt":"2019-05-10T21:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=19408"},"modified":"2019-05-10T16:14:39","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T21:14:39","slug":"colorado-charges-forward-with-zero-emission-vehicle-proposal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2019\/05\/10\/colorado-charges-forward-with-zero-emission-vehicle-proposal\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado charges forward with Zero Emission Vehicle proposal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"This post was written by EDF attorney Laura Shields\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Colorado moved farther down the road toward a cleaner, less-polluting transportation sector today.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission unanimously voted to move forward with a formal hearing to consider adoption of state Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standards.<\/p>\n

The ZEV standards would provide for manufacturers to sell a certain number of clean zero-emitting vehicles in Colorado. That would deliver vital reductions in climate pollution, smog, and other harmful air pollution. At the same time, it would help save Coloradans hard-earned money through major fuel cost savings.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Air Division\u2019s initial economic impact analysis<\/a> projects Colorado ZEV standards would reduce the state\u2019s greenhouse gas pollution by roughly 2.2 million metric tons between 2023 and 2030.<\/p>\n

The analysis also projects that a ZEV program would decrease the contaminants that contribute to ground-level ozone (otherwise known as smog) in the state. Colorado has struggled to meet both the 2008 and 2015 health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone, and the American Lung Association\u2019s 2019 State of the Air report<\/a> ranked Denver the 12th<\/sup> most ozone-polluted city in the nation.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Moving forward to adopt state ZEV standards can also help protect Coloradans against the damaging impacts of the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to rollback federal clean car standards. A recent analysis by William Becker<\/a> shows that Trump\u2019s proposed Clean Car rollback would have serious health implications for Coloradans. Becker\u2019s analysis indicates that in Colorado alone, Trump\u2019s rollback would lead to 286 heart-disease-related and 234 lung-disease-related hospital admissions, and up to 304 more premature deaths by 2050.<\/p>\n

In addition to these important climate and human health benefits, Colorado\u2019s consideration of ZEV standards comes at a period of rapid growth in the availability of new ZEV models \u2013 including SUVs, cross-overs and pick-up trucks \u2013 and dramatic reductions in the costs of these vehicles.<\/p>\n

A recent analysis by energy consulting firm MJ Bradley and Associates<\/a> highlights automaker commitments to invest billions of dollars in electrification \u2013 including job-creating investments in American manufacturing plants to build electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

The analysis finds<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween 2019 and 2022, the number of battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models available to U.S. consumers will increase from 55 to 81. The range of vehicle types available will also increase to include sport utility vehicles (SUV), cross-overs, and pick-up trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cost of battery packs has fallen dramatically, from approximately $1,000\/kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2010 to approximately $176\/kWh in 2018. Most analysts project that battery pack prices will continue to fall, reaching $100\/kWh around 2025 and $62-72\/kWh by 2030. These projections have been endorsed by auto manufacturers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is general industry consensus that EVs will reach price parity with [internal combustion engine] vehicles (based on total cost of ownership without considering any tax incentives) when battery pack prices fall below $100\/kWh. While some industry experts believe this could happen as early as 2021, most believe it will happen around 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission\u2019s decision to move forward with consideration of state ZEV standards comes on the heels of Colorado\u2019s passage of\u00a0HB 19-1261, historic legislation<\/a> setting rigorous climate pollution reduction goals. It is also part of the state\u2019s broader commitment to address climate impacts and reduce emissions from Colorado\u2019s transportation sector.<\/p>\n

In January of this year, Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued an executive order<\/a> aimed at accelerating transportation electrification and dedicating funds to expand electric vehicle infrastructure development.<\/p>\n

The Colorado General Assembly also just enacted major electric vehicle-focused legislation that will continue to drive costs down and build up infrastructure:<\/p>\n