ELECTRIC VEHICLES

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Transportation is the single largest carbon-emitting sector in the United States.

As electricity continues to rapidly transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources, transportation’s share of emissions is only growing. According to the EPA, the emissions from a typical gas-powered passenger vehicle total 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. It is urgent to transition from gas powered cars to electric vehicles in order to reduce emissions and take advantage of the increasingly renewable energy mix.

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There are currently more than 1000 public Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers across the state.

Best Practices: Electric Vehicles

  • The availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is critical to increasing consumer adoption. Colorado companies are investing in charging stations to meet the needs of employees with EVs and to encourage others to use electric vehicles. Access to charging stations at work is particularly important for employees who live in apartments without access to charging at home.

  • In addition to charging stations, many companies offer preferred and/or free parking to owners of HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) or BEVs (battery-powered electric vehicles).

  • Businesses can also make a difference by transitioning their own fleets of company cars to EVs.

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An RMI analysis reveals that even if the electric grid were on a path to achieve 75–85 percent of clean energy production by 2040, 15–20 percent of global light-duty vehicles would need to be electrified by 2030 in order to limit global temperature rise to less than 2°C and avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change (and ensure that our cities are cleaner and more livable for billions of people around the world).

COLORADO'S Champions of Change

 
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According to Lyft’s Sustainability Policy Manager, Jon Walker, Lyft has its largest EV presence in Denver and the Front Range.

Lyft is working toward a fully electrified platform and recently committed to offering 100% electric vehicles in their drivers’ rental pool by 2030.

The company’s focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has a particular focus in Denver where Lyft has launched 200 long-range electric vehicles (EVs) into their Denver Express Drive rental program.

The company’s efforts have been aided by Colorado’s state EV rebate programs and Lyft’s determination to make electric vehicles more affordable for their high mileage drivers by providing unlimited access to convenient and fast charging stations. Colorado currently has one of the best EV rebates in the country and the Colorado Energy Office recently modified the Colorado tax credit to allow this program to extend to ridesharing companies that offer rental options.

Xcel Energy plans to shift to EVs for its own fleet with all company sedans electric by 2023, all light-duty vehicles electric by 2030 and 30% of its medium and heavy-duty vehicles by 2030.

In August 2020, Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest electric company, announced a new vision in addition to its aspiration to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Xcel Energy announced that it will aspire to power 1.5 million electric vehicles, equivalent to roughly 20% of all vehicles on the road, in the areas it serves by 2030. In addition, Xcel Energy plans to shift to EVs for its own fleet with all company sedans electric by 2023, all light-duty vehicles electric by 2030, and 30% of its medium and heavy-duty vehicles by 2030. To help achieve both this vision and the EV goals of the State of Colorado, Xcel Energy will invest $110 million over the next three years to provide new electric vehicle customer programs and charging infrastructure with the goal of encouraging the shift to EVs.

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The Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance supports companies in making and achieving bold commitments to fleet electrification.

Many companies across the nation are investing in EVs as a mechanism to cut operating expenses and meet sustainability targets. The advantages of these investments range from generating significant cost savings, to attracting new customers, to aiding employee recruitment and retainment. This includes the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance, led by Ceres, which is a collaborative group of more than 20 companies focused on accelerating the transition to EVs. The Alliance supports companies in making and achieving bold commitments to fleet electrification. You can learn more about the Alliance here and read testimonials from its founding members, which include Amazon, AT&T, Clif Bar, Consumers Energy, DHL, Genentech, IKEA North America, and Siemens among others.