Cleaner, cheaper, faster

Replacing a fossil-fueled vehicle with a zero-emission EV brings greater savings to drivers in Washington state than anywhere else in the country. And because replacing a combustion vehicle with an EV benefits not only the driver but all of us, we believe Washington state should be the cheapest state to buy an EV.

By adopting our proposed SURGE – Strategy for the Urgent Reduction of Greenhouse gas Emissions, the state can make it so.

In our comments to the state’s Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council on the Draft Transportation Electrification Strategy, we noted that the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s Transportation Electrification Scorecard showed Washington as lagging far behind other leading states in terms of incentives for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Consider that in Colorado, state-level incentives can exceed $10,000 for a new EV (including up to $6,000 for a vehicle exchange) and stack with existing Federal and utility incentives. There is also a specific used EV incentive when exchanging an older vehicle. In California, drivers can access state-level incentives through the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program ($1,000 to $7,500), Clean Cars 4 All Program ($9,500), and the Replace Your Ride Initiative (up to $12,000).

In our comments we expressed support for proposed Washington state policies that include:  

• Increasing EV sales through incentives such as expanded sales tax exemptions and purchase vouchers, while expanding the market for those who can’t currently afford an EV with stackable point-of-sale incentives, and…
• Meeting that uptake with reliable, accessible, and affordable charging that, if done strategically, can lower system costs and electricity rates for all consumers.

We also expressed our support for a robust MHD truck voucher program, and encouraged consideration of set-asides for approaches that deliver the greatest air quality benefits for the most vulnerable communities – including truck parking electrification, port decarbonization, electric buses, and reserved funding for scrap-and-replace.

Surging incentives will help drivers in Washington state make the move to cleaner, more efficient EVs. To-date, more than 150,000 Washingtonians are driving for less than $1.50/gallon-equivalent.

Gasoline price per gallon and cost equivalent for electric transportation

Data on gasoline prices (Washington All Grades Conventional Retail) are from the US Energy Information Agency (EIA) Weekly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices time series.
Data on electricity prices in gasoline equivalents are derived based on Washington state residential rates from EIA’s Electricity Data Browser “Average retail price of electricity, monthly”.

Washington is already the best state for saving on fuel by switching to electric. With funding from the Climate Commitment Act’s cap-and-invest auction revenues, Washington can be the cheapest state to buy an EV. And guess what? Washington is home to the fastest EV in the world!

Whidbey Island native Steve Huff, founder of Steve Huff Motorsports and the Faster Than Cancer Foundation, set a world record time in the ¼ mile at 202.52 mph!