Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 500 into law, requiring that all autonomous vehicles (AVs) be electric vehicles (EVs). This is groundbreaking legislation that Plug In America was pushing for. Many believe that autonomous vehicles are the way of the future, with all vehicles being self-driving. If that is the case, then that means all vehicles will also be electric! This is the kind of landmark legislation that we have been advocating for and an area where we, as a community of EV drivers and supporters, have had a real impact.
Even before we completely transition to AVs, they may soon be used for deliveries, ride-hailing, and other applications that keep those vehicles on the road for more miles than typical passenger vehicles. If those vehicles are spewing toxic emissions, it would have a dangerous effect on our air quality. As this new technology is being developed, it’s vitally important that it be built with modern electric drive, not internal combustion engines.
As is often the case, California sets the trends for these types of policies. We hope that other states also enact similar legislation and that this becomes the standard for the whole country!
Photo: “File:Waymo Chrysler Pacifica in Los Altos, 2017.jpg” by Dllu is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
