California will need 1.2 million electric vehicle charging stations by 2030 if it wants to end the sale of gas-powered cars, according to the California Energy Commission.
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will require all new cars to be zero-emission by 2035.
Energy Commission head Patty Monahan told KNX the key to achieving zero emissions is to place charging stations in areas that are convenient for people.
“The beauty of electric vehicles is you can charge from your home, you can charge from your workplace, you can charge when you’re out running an errand because there’s a charging station in front of your grocery store,” said Monahan.
Currently, there are more than 73,000 charging stations in the state. Another 123,000 are planned to be installed by 2025.
Monahan believes the 1.2 million goal can be achieved through public-private partnerships.
Nationally, too, legislators are increasing efforts to expand the use of electric vehicles. As part of President Joe Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan to improve children’s health, Democratic lawmakers proposed legislation that would invest $25 billion to convert the country’s gasoline- and diesel-powered school buses to electric vehicles.