After owning an electric vehicle for eight years, I am committed to an all-electric future. Electric vehicles are healthier for people, better for the environment and much more fun to drive than their gas counterparts.
Here in Colorado, climate change is already taking its toll and we have an air quality problem that threatens health. We must do everything we can to increase the adoption of electric vehicles. And we’re already on track: EV sales are skyrocketing, Colorado has a plan to get nearly 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, and state and federal tax credits will help thousands of Coloradans to buy electric vehicles.
But if we don’t make sure enough electric vehicles are available, affordable and accessible to Coloradans, all of these initiatives could fail. We need every piece in place to make this transition work.
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The next piece of the puzzle is the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission: passing the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations. That rule will require automakers to sell an increasing portion of zero-emissions vehicles each year starting in 2027. If Colorado adopts the full version of the rule, all new vehicles will be electric by 2035.
This is music to my ears. I’ve always been bothered by the sheer number of cars on the road and the environmental destruction required to produce the gas that runs them.
When my husband and I decided to buy an electric vehicle in 2015, we were nervous about the sticker price. But a $5,000 tax credit from the state helped us afford our first electric vehicle, a Nissan Leaf.
Especially given today’s volatile spikes in gas prices, the initial costs have more than paid for themselves. As a near-daily commuter, I used to spend at least $150 a month on gas and had repair bills of over $1,000 every few months. Now I only spend $20-$30 a month on electricity and my only maintenance costs are tires, washer fluid, windshield wipers, and passenger air filters.
Given that transport is the main contributor to climate emissions, decarbonising this sector could not be more urgent.
More than that, I love driving electric vehicles. They have amazing acceleration. I never have to worry about maintaining my speed while driving through a mountain pass. No engine screams in my ears. I can listen to stories and music, and I can hear my passengers talking.
Electric vehicles are also becoming more comfortable. The public charging infrastructure has improved a lot. The state legislature also passed a bill this year to expand charging stations and ensure residents of multifamily buildings have access to more affordable home charging options.
Most importantly, it feels good to know that my car isn’t emitting toxins into the air. Even here in the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley, we have a real air pollution problem. Garfield County received a “C” on the American Lung Association’s ozone report card. And the Front Range has been designated a “severe” violator of federal ozone standards, with the worst pollution concentrated near low-income communities and communities of color. Given that transport is the main contributor to climate emissions, decarbonising this sector could not be more urgent.
Despite all the benefits and the urgency to adopt electric vehicles, sometimes it seems like there’s nothing but negative press about them. It is clear that there are powerful forces that want to ensure that we continue to depend on oil and gas for transportation.
That’s why we need a policy that ensures enough electric vehicles are manufactured to meet demand, demonstrate that electric vehicles can be affordable and convenient, and usher in our electric future. Passing Advanced Clean Cars II will not only increase the number of electric vehicles available, but also raise the bar on battery charging speed, safety and recycling. When we pass these rules, manufacturers will bring more affordable electric vehicle models to Colorado. Also, more EV sales will put more used EVs on the market.
Advanced Clean Cars II rules will help Colorado make the most of the EV moment. I look forward to a future where everyone has access to vehicles that do not emit toxic pollution that causes climate change.
