Minnesota Officials Announce Vision For Electric Car Development

SAINT PAUL, MN — Minnesota has a plan to support and foster the use of electric vehicles. The Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Pollution Control Agency and the Great Plains Institute have released “Accelerating Electric Vehicle Adoption: A Vision for Minnesota,” which provides a vision and strategies for encouraging greater adoption of electric vehicles and the necessary charging equipment across the state. It also sets a goal of increasing the amount of electric vehicles in Minnesota from about 6,000 today to 200,000 in 2030.

“Electric vehicles reduce pollution, improve public health, and are more efficient than internal combustion engines” said MnDOT Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher in a statement.

“They are also a lot of fun to drive.”

Electric vehicles are cheaper to maintain and operate than traditional cars, according to the report. Although electric vehicles currently cost more than similar sized vehicles, the cost will decrease as more electric vehicles enter the market and the technology becomes more prevalent.

The vision document also addresses potential benefits that will come with greater electric vehicle use, including: job creation that will support local and state economies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improvements in air quality and public health, and support for environmental justice and social equity.

“Minnesota’s climate is changing and we must address this by reducing greenhouse gases in all parts of our economy, including our transportation sector,” says Commissioner Laura Bishop of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

“Our recent Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report revealed that expanding electric vehicles provides Minnesotans with a big opportunity for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the health of Minnesotans everywhere.”

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