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Uber has pledged that vehicles on its ride-hailing platform will be zero-emission by 2030 in the United States, Canada and Europe, and across the globe  by 2040. The company has 5 million drivers worldwide. It vowed to contribute $800 million through 2025 to help drivers switch to battery-powered vehicles, including discounts for vehicles bought or leased from its partner automakers, which currently include General Motors and the Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. Uber competitor Lyft has already made a similar commitment to have 100% EVs on its platform by 2030.

Coltura has published a law review article in the Michigan Journal of Environmental and Administrative Law identifying for the first time a legal path for all states to mandate that all new vehicles be electric. (It was previously thought that only California had legal authority to mandate EVs.) Coltura’s research discloses that state EV mandates can withstand federal preemption challenges if the reasons for enacting them are within the state’s authority. Such reasons include electric grid benefits, increased jobs and economic development, reduced storm water pollution from gasoline drips and leaks at gas stations, savings to consumers on vehicle maintenance, and downward pressure on electricity rates. States should avoid justifying electrification mandates on grounds within the federally-controlled areas of emissions reduction and fuel economy.

Menlo Park, California became the first city in the United States to set a goal of reducing gasoline sales within its borders. The goal is to reduce gasoline sales within the city by 10% a year from a 2018 baseline. The goal is an integral part of the city's climate action plan, which sets a path for the city to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. 

The murder of George Floyd spotlights massive injustices in American society, and is motivating millions of Americans to reexamine race, policing, and injustice. Coltura stands in solidarity with those working to dismantle the systems of oppression and racism that have burdened black and brown people for centuries. Meanwhile, the economic divide widens, and the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, with disproportionate impacts on people of color.

How many gallons of gasoline are pumped in your city each year? Your city officials can’t tell you, because they don’t have the data. They don’t know which of their investments to reduce transportation emissions (such as EV charging infrastructure, public transit, e-bikes and e-scooters, EV ride & drives, and education campaigns) are having an impact on the city’s gasoline sales.They also don’t know which residents living near gas stations are exposed to the highest levels of carcinogenic benzene vapors.

On March 9, the Washington State Senate joined the House in passing SB 5811, legislation which enables Washington to require automakers to stock a certain percentage of zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) at dealerships within the state. Gov. Inslee strongly supports the legislation and is expected to sign it shortly. 

On February 10, the Washington State House Transportation Committee, headed by Rep. Jake Fey, held the country’s first-ever hearing on a bill to require all new cars sold in the state to be electric starting with model year 2030.  

Washington Rep. Nicole Macri has introduced HB 2515, the Clean Cars 2030 bill, with nine co-sponsors. The bill, drafted with assistance from Coltura, would require all model-year 2030 or later passenger and light-duty vehicles sold in Washington state to be electric. People could keep, sell, and purchase model-year 2029 and prior gasoline vehicles without restriction. Emergency response vehicles and vehicles over 10,000 pounds, such as farm equipment, would be exempt.