LANSING (WWJ) – State employees in Michigan will soon be driving electric vehicles, as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed an executive directive to transition the state’s fleet to all zero-emission vehicles by 2040.
Under the directive, all state-owned light-duty vehicles will be converted to ZEVs by 2033, while medium and heavy-duty vehicles have until 2040.
Officials say the transition will “reduce air pollution, help boost demand for Michigan-made electric vehicles, and lower costs of fuel and maintenance.”
“Michigan automakers are on the cutting-edge of the world’s switch to zero emission vehicles, and with today’s executive directive to transition our state-owned fleet by 2040, the state of Michigan is leading by example,” Whitmer said, per a press release.
State agencies and departments will be instructed to prioritize zero-emission vehicles in their fleet, prioritize transitioning vehicles that travel the most miles first and prioritize vehicles in communities historically impacted by higher pollution.
Departments and agencies will also be instructed to install electric vehicle supply equipment, including publicly accessible chargers, in high-density areas, and establish clear exemption criteria for specific fleet vehicles and offer alternative emission reduction options including hybrids.
The Department of Technology, Management and Budget will consult with various departments — including MDOT, EGLE and the Michigan Public Service Commission — to establish policies to “promote the immediate use of ZEVs in the state’s fleet.”
Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw told WWJ "the executive directive applies to all departments and agencies. We'll be reviewing it to determine how to best comply."
“The UAW applauds the State of Michigan for showing that the electric vehicle transition doesn’t have to be a race to the bottom,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.
The full executive directive can be read on the state’s website.