Rhode Island charging ahead toward electric cars & trucks

Media Contacts

Environment Rhode Island Research & Policy Center

Today, Governor Chafee released an action plan with a team of other governors to help put more than 3 million zero-emission vehicles on the road within a dozen years. The plan, a collaboration between eight leading states, describes steps to revolutionize how we power our vehicles and break our dependence on oil — while cleaning up global warming pollution and improving air quality. Zero-emission vehicles include battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles, which can travel increasingly longer distances on electricity alone. These technologies can be used in passenger cars, trucks and transit buses — enabling transportation without oil.

Channing Jones, Campaign Director with Environment Rhode Island, issued the following statement applauding the plan:

“Governor Chafee and the leaders of the seven partner states have come together at a critical juncture to create a much-needed roadmap for revolutionizing the way we drive. By advancing consumer incentives and other key policies, the plan released today can help make electric cars as convenient, affordable, and widespread as cars currently powered by oil. This is a crucial strategy to protect our children and future generations from the worst impacts of global warming — and it will help protect our health by cleaning up air pollution.

“We applaud the release of today’s Multi-State Action Plan and look forward to working with our future governor and climate leaders across the country to accelerate the transition to clean, electric vehicles.”