Overview Of Our Work
The transportation sector now comprises the largest source of emissions across North Carolina’s economy. While we’ve made significant progress in deploying lower-emitting vehicle options throughout the state, there is still a significant amount of work necessary to accelerate equitable, low-cost solutions to transform the light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle markets.
90,000+
EVs registered in NC
1,600+
EV charging stations in NC
9,049
clean vehicle jobs in NC
36%
of statewide emissions from Transportation
Policy Overview
In North Carolina, policies like the Inflation Reduction Act have driven significant amounts of investment in clean vehicle manufacturing set to transform the future of the automotive industry. Moving forward, it is imperative that the state embraces the industry that has driven this significant investment.
NCSEA is actively engaged in proceedings at the NC Utilities Commission to open the door for transformative programs designed to lower the cost of EV charging, bolster grid resiliency and reliability, and accelerate the adoption of EVs across different vehicle classes. The organization is also working with elected officials and decisionmakers to ensure that EVs are on a level playing field with traditional vehicles so drivers are not paying more than their fair share in taxes and have plenty of viable purchasing options.
EQUITY IN TRANSPORTATION
Within the realm of transportation electrification, there has been monumental progress in the expansion of this market in recent years. However, there are several barriers that prevent low-to-moderate income and disadvantaged communities from readily accessing EVs. Given the high upfront cost of EVs, it can be difficult to afford such a substantial investment. Funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act is vital for bridging this gap. According to Atlas Public Policy’s EV Hub, IIJA and IRA funding available for EVs amounts to almost 30 times the total EV-related public funding awarded to date. Now more than ever, there is ample opportunity to include low-to-moderate income communities and historically disadvantaged communities in the transition to EVs. Another key component of advancing an equitable EV transition is ensuring that EV charging infrastructure is built out in rural areas and low-to-moderate income communities. Some federal funding is specifically allocated towards these efforts, but there must be a concerted, localized push to distribute both public and private funding into areas that are often overlooked yet stand to benefit the most from the economic and environmental benefits of transportation electrification. NCSEA is dedicated to advocating for low-to-moderate income and disadvantaged communities within this space and seeking opportunities to uplift marginalized voices in related policy proceedings.
RELATED RESOURCES
Check out the latest research, policy updates, and thought leadership from the NCSEA team related to our transportation sector work in North Carolina.
blog
Tapping into North Carolina’s Electric Vehicle Potential: The Power of Direct Sales
Jun 22, 2023
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Driving Forces in NC: Investing Volkswagen Mitigation Program Funds into Equal Access of Electric Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure
May 11, 2022
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Member Highlight: Appalachian State University Unveils Boone’s First Electric Bus
Oct 19, 2022
GET INVOLVED
Looking to help support the transition to clean energy in North Carolina? Take action, join us at an upcoming event, or support NCSEA today.
map
Public EV Charging Stations in North Carolina
Jul 11, 2024
The primary source of data for this map comes from the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuel Data Center with additional analysis done by our Market Innovation Team. Our analysis aims to serve as a tool for current and potential EV owners to understand the vast extent of EV infrastructure currently in our state.