ACCELERATING CLEAN, ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORTATION BY 2035: POLICY PRIORITIES

The report argues that transitioning the U.S. transportation sector to 100 percent electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2030-2035, paired with a 90 percent clean grid by 2035, is technologically feasible and economically beneficial. It outlines a strategic framework focusing on national emission standards, targeted financial incentives, the expansion of charging infrastructure, and the growth of domestic manufacturing. The authors emphasize that this transition must prioritize environmental justice and social equity, specifically targeting low-to-moderate-income communities and those disproportionately affected by transportation pollution. Key recommendations include reforming the federal EV tax credit into a point-of-sale rebate, implementing 'made in America' policies for battery production, and streamlining grid interconnection and building codes to support rapid EVSE deployment.

• Achieving 100 percent EV sales by 2030-2035 and a 90 percent clean electricity grid by 2035 (the DRIVE Clean Scenario) could generate $2.7 trillion in consumer cost savings and avoid 150,000 premature deaths through 2050.
• The report identifies national fuel economy and tailpipe emissions standards as the highest priority policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, recommending that the EPA set a GHG tailpipe emissions standard for new light-duty vehicles reaching 0g/mile by 2030-35.
• To ensure an equitable transition, policies should prioritize pollution reductions in communities of color in historically redlined neighborhoods and frontline communities, specifically targeting particulate emissions from trucks and buses.
• The authors recommend reforming the Federal Plug-In EV Consumer Tax Credit by removing the 200,000 unit-per-manufacturer cap on light-duty vehicles, expanding it to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and converting it into a point-of-sale rebate.
• To support the domestic supply chain, the report proposes a 30 percent Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for domestic battery manufacturing and the creation of battery cell manufacturing production incentives, such as direct federal payments per kWh.
• Expanding charging infrastructure requires addressing the 'split incentive' barrier in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) through 'make-ready' investments and dedicated MUD-specific incentives.
• The report suggests that the U.S. should adopt 'EV-ready' building codes for all new construction and major retrofits to avoid the high cost of retrofitting electrical equipment, which is nearly four times more expensive than installation during new construction.
• To manage grid impact and encourage off-peak charging, the report recommends enabling time-varying rates (TVR) for light-duty electric vehicles and reforming commercial rates to mitigate demand charge impacts for fast charging.
• The federal government can stimulate domestic manufacturing and demand by requiring zero-emission vehicle procurement through the General Services Administration (GSA) and issuing executive orders for military ZEV procurement.

APA

Baldwin, S., Myers, A., O’Boyle, M., & Wooley, D. (2021). ACCELERATING CLEAN, ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORTATION BY 2035: POLICY PRIORITIES. Energy Innovation. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Energy-Innovation_2035-2.0-Accelerating-Clean-Transportation-Policy-Report.pdf

Chicago

Baldwin, Sara, Amanda Myers, Michael O’Boyle, and David Wooley. ACCELERATING CLEAN, ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORTATION BY 2035: POLICY PRIORITIES. Energy Innovation, 2021. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Energy-Innovation_2035-2.0-Accelerating-Clean-Transportation-Policy-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Baldwin |first1=Sara |last2=Myers |first2=Amanda |last3=O’Boyle |first3=Michael |last4=Wooley |first4=David |title=ACCELERATING CLEAN, ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORTATION BY 2035: POLICY PRIORITIES |publisher=Energy Innovation |date=April 2021 |url=https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Energy-Innovation_2035-2.0-Accelerating-Clean-Transportation-Policy-Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{baldwin2021accelerating, author = {Baldwin, Sara and Myers, Amanda and O’Boyle, Michael and Wooley, David}, title = {{ACCELERATING CLEAN, ELECTRIFIED TRANSPORTATION BY 2035: POLICY PRIORITIES}}, institution = {Energy Innovation}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/Energy-Innovation_2035-2.0-Accelerating-Clean-Transportation-Policy-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }