In the Driver’s Seat Blog

We are thrilled to announce that the Scottsdale City Council voted last week to update their building codes with EV charging requirements for new construction. PIA Board Member Raejean Fellows gave passionate testimony at the City Council meeting (her testimony begins at 1 hour, 2 minutes), pointing out the many[…]

Plug In America is proud to honor individuals, groups, and large organizations for their important work advancing EVs. We present the Drive Electric Awards to those nominated and recognized for their leadership each year, such as U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for his work in advancing EV legislation[…]

A vote for Proposition 30 is a vote for clean air in California. If passed, Prop. 30 will impose a small 1.75% personal income tax increase on only the wealthiest Californians (those making more than $2 million per year). This initiative will generate between $3.5 billion to $5 billion annually[…]

Update on March 13, 2023: Check out our tax credit resources for vehicles delivered between Aug. 17, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2022 and those delivered on and after Jan. 1, 2023. What the new EV tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act mean for you It’s been a big couple[…]

For more than a decade, Plug In America’s top policy priority has been to extend and expand the federal EV tax credits. This week, a bill to do just that was signed by President Biden. In some respects, the Inflation Reduction Act is less than we would have hoped for,[…]

The EV Charging for All Coalition (which includes Plug In America, Acterra, California Interfaith Power and Light, and many other organizations) is proud to co-sponsor a key bill, SB 1482 (Allen), to reduce barriers to the equitable adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in California. Help us pass SB 1482 for[…]

California regulators are fine-tuning a set of proposed draft rules that would ban the sale of gas and diesel vehicles by 2035. The proposed Advanced Clean Cars II Regulations (ACC II), if adopted, will tighten existing state regulations to reduce vehicle emissions under a wider range of conditions, ensure battery[…]

With record-setting gasoline prices across the nation, many drivers are considering EVs for the first time. Searches for new plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles are at peak levels, increasing exponentially since energy prices began to soar in March 2022. Global supply chain challenges continue to limit the production of new[…]

Over the past decade, consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States has increased exponentially, with consideration for EVs amongst prospective drivers reaching an all-time high. Accordingly, the federal government is investing in a national charging network to provide equitable access to EV charging across the country. Given[…]

Exciting news! Right now, we have a key opportunity to ensure equity for residents of apartments and condos in the next CALGreen building code cycle. Speak up today if you agree that California’s multi-family residents – who are more likely to be low-wealth, BIPOC, and/or more burdened with air pollution – deserve the same[…]

Toyota made great environmental strides almost 25 years ago when they introduced the world to the Prius hybrid. The Prius was revolutionary for its time, but as we electrify our transportation system, hybrids alone won’t cut it. It’s time for Toyota to be a leader again and step up its production[…]

Congress recently passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which includes $7.5 billion in dedicated funding to help make public EV charging stations accessible to all Americans. Although more and more people are buying EVs, there is still apprehension around battery longevity and charging availability. As more people consider or make the[…]

Plug In America’s PlugStar electric vehicle dealer training program has greatly expanded in recent weeks with new exciting new programs in partnership with DoorDash, Kia, and Wells Fargo. In the San Francisco Bay Area, PlugStar is partnering with DoorDash to drive and scale up the adoption of EVs among delivery[…]

The EV Charging for All coalition continues to make progress; if you live in California, we need your support this week! Thanks to a massive coalition effort, our EV Charging Equity bill, SB1482, passed out of the Assembly Housing Committee on June 29. Seventy-eight organizations and 87 individuals signed onto[…]

On June 9, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held a hearing on the Advanced Clean Cars II program. The current Advanced Clean Cars program has been adopted by 17 other states but will end in 2025. Under this program, automakers must sell EVs in these states. Thank you to[…]

For many years, Plug In America has been giving consumers the opportunity to test drive and learn about electric vehicles through National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric Earth Day, and EV ride and drive events throughout the year. With the advent of COVID-19, we quickly pivoted and successfully transitioned nearly[…]

Advanced Clean Cars, also known as Clean Cars Standards, is a set of standards designed to put more zero-emission vehicles on the road and improve air quality. These standards are created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), but have since also been adopted by 17 other states, including Nevada,[…]

The Global EV Drivers’ Alliance, comprised of EV driver associations in nearly 40 countries around the world, including Plug In America, has released the following statement: We need to speak the truth. The Russian war against Ukraine is being paid for by exports of oil and gas, just like all[…]

There are no words to adequately describe the kind and brilliantly effective persuasion that Kathy Lynch, our long-time partner in advocacy for Plug In America, brought when lobbying for all EV drivers in California. And there are no words that can adequately describe the deep and profound loss we feel[…]

On March 31, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reversed the Trump administration’s actions by issuing more stringent fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicle model years 2024 to 2026. Plug In America commends the administration for making internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles more fuel-efficient. This is an important step in[…]

As electric vehicles gain popularity and automakers invest billions of dollars, they are bringing new jobs and economic growth to communities across the United States. With more people transitioning to EVs, more jobs are being created to build out infrastructure such as factories and EV charging networks. Given that there[…]

New mail trucks to be equipped with 8-track tape players, rotary dial phones and manual hand-crank windows Across the U.S., more and more companies are transitioning their fleets to modern electric vehicles. Bucking that trend, the United States Postal Service has chosen to double down on more traditional technology with[…]

Plug In America watchers know that Drive Electric Earth Day (DEED), celebrated for the entire month of April, is an extension of September’s National Drive Electric Week (NDEW). But how did NDEW come about? It all started with President Barack Obama and, as DEED begins, we’re taking the opportunity to[…]

Plug In America is growing! To meet the increasing demand for electric vehicles, we are excited to welcome five new staff members to our team. Chelsea Alexander, Director of Development   Sydney Frazier-Flores, Program Assistant   Alexia Melendez Martineau, Policy Manager   Rosa Mitsumasu Scotti, Program Manager   Derrick Vargas,[…]

With record-setting gasoline prices across the nation, an increasing number of drivers are considering EVs. Searches for new plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles are at record levels, increasing by over 60% since the beginning of March according to a report by MarketWatch. However, as the global supply chain faces new[…]

On March 11, at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas, Plug In America announced that it is partnering with NADA and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to educate franchised auto dealerships nationwide on electric vehicles. This will greatly improve the EV buying experience and make[…]

We need to speak the truth. The Russian war against Ukraine is being paid for by exports of oil and gas, just like all of Putin’s previous wars. If everybody in the world drove electric vehicles and their electricity came from renewables, this war would probably not be happening. And[…]

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently announced the creation of a national EV charging network with $5 billion in funding to be distributed to states. The network will prioritize charging stations along highways, giving EV drivers the ability to travel long distances without worrying about access[…]

Once again, electric vehicles took the spotlight during the Super Bowl, with several ads touting both vehicles and charging equipment. Take a look at these ads below and let us know what you think in the comments! BMW  General Motors   Kia Nissan While this ad doesn’t focus on[…]

PlugStar, a service offered by Plug In America, assists consumers and dealers with finding and selling EVs. What sets PlugStar apart from similar programs is its ecosystem approach that assists users from start to finish. There is PlugStar.com, our consumer-facing EV information and shopping site. On the site, a consumer[…]

While fires in electric vehicles (EVs) have made headlines in recent years, data from the U.S. government and analyzed by AutoinsuranceEZ point out that EVs have a very low fire risk compared to gasoline and traditional hybrid vehicles, even when accounting for the fact that there are more gasoline and[…]

As we head into the beginning of 2022, there are a number of exciting new electric vehicle models on the market. These highly-anticipated EVs have recently made their debut and are now available to consumers. From a truck that can handle any terrain to a luxury car with more than[…]

We had hoped that Congress would pass the historic EV provisions in the Build Back Better Act before the end of 2021. Plug In America and its members have devoted tremendous energy to that effort this year, pinging Congress more than 35,000 times in the past 12 months. That has[…]