SACE's Electric Transportation Director shares insights into timely electric vehicle (EV) topics on LinkedIn. Check out what's captured his attention recently and join the conversation.

Increasingly, electric vehicles (EVs) are in the headlines with a politicalized slant, and misinformation about the technology and the state of the EV market is rampant. But beyond the noise, the EV market is zipping along. This month’s Hot Topics features three stories illustrating how EVs are mainstreaming.

1. With approximately 45% of car shoppers considering buying an EV and EV shopper demographics becoming more mainstream, EVs are becoming normalized; consumers are seeing more EVs on the road and increasingly know friends and relatives that drive EVs, which helps build trust in and desire for the technology. As a result, growth in EV sales continues, with one out of every ten cars bought in the US and one out of every five globally now electric.
2. EV mainstreaming goes beyond cars. School bus electrification has surged in the past two years, thanks largely to $5 billion in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which helped school districts buy an electric bus for the same cost as a diesel one. Nationally, there are now 5,123 electric school buses bringing 261,120 children to and from school daily, with another 8,757 awarded, ordered, and on the way, including 2,060 in the Southeast.
3. Charging infrastructure deployment increased by 30% in 2024. The proliferation of chargers supports EV drivers’ ability to travel farther from home for work and play, and further builds consumer confidence in the technology. The growth in charger availability was also spurred by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the $5 billion National EV Infrastructure (NEVI) and the $2.5 billion Community Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) programs. The time has never been better for an EV road trip!

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms. Questions remain about whether the federal government’s attempts to claw back electric transportation funding for EV tax credits, electric school buses, and charging stations will prevail; how tariffs and the threat of tariffs impact the auto sector, vehicle prices and investments in EV manufacturing; whether new and used EV tax credits will remain available for consumers and commercial fleets; and whether growing consumer demand for EVs will cool.

But for now, sit back and enjoy the Hot Topics ride.

The Electric Horse Has Left the Barn

It’s no secret that EVs have become political hot potatoes. Our federal government is threatening to slash tax credits that have helped usher an astounding $81.2 billion in EV and battery investments to the Southeast — a number that represents 38% of the national total and is anticipated to deliver 75,100 jobs, making our region a leader in EV and battery manufacturing. Meanwhile, in a maddening twist of irony, an administration so obsessed with “efficiency” that they’ve created a new department to tackle it, is planning to shut down 8,000 already-installed EV chargers — eschewing electric vehicles that operate with 80% efficiency for gas cars that operate with only 20%.

This aversion to advancement isn’t new. When cars started displacing horses, everyone with a stake in horses tried to slow the transition. Now, as EVs gain on gas cars, everyone with a stake in petroleum-powered vehicles is trying to delay their electrification. But the electric horse has already left the barn. EV market share recently surpassed 10%, a milestone I’ve been dreaming of since I joined the EV space in 2009. As 27 new light-duty EV models became available last year, 1.5 million were sold in the U.S. The number represents a 7.3% jump from the year before. Can I get a YE-freaking-HA!? Read more.

The Willy Wonka of Electric School Buses

Ever been to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory? Me neither, but touring the Thomas Built Buses plant in High Point, North Carolina, to watch them build electric buses was almost as fun for this EV geek. Thomas Built builds electric and diesel buses on the same production line. The only difference is whether the body is affixed to a chassis equipped with a clean and efficient electric drive train or a dirty and inefficient diesel drive train. My tour came as the federal government threatens to revoke previously-committed funding for electric school buses, potentially forcing one school district to choose between purchasing new school buses and hiring six more teachers. Read more.

Road Trip Report: More Miles, Less Maintenance

I recently took my EV on a 1,400-mile road trip to paddle some of Florida’s spectacular spring-fed rivers. During our highway driving, we stopped at seven 250 kW Superchargers for an average of seven minutes per stop, allowing our battery to charge from around 15% to 60% (and allowing us to empty our bladders). We then trickle-charged overnight at our vacation rental on the Rainbow River, which was included in our rental price. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, more miles hasn’t equaled more maintenance. In fact, after 40,000 miles on my 2022 Model Y, the brakes still look brand new. What can I say? The experience of owning an EV continues to kick gas. Read more.

Want to join the EV conversation? Let’s connect on LinkedIn!

SACE’s Electrify the South program leverages research, advocacy, and outreach to accelerate the equitable transition to electric transportation across the Southeast. Visit ElectrifytheSouth.org to learn more and connect with us.