Los Angeles sets out ‘aggressive’ electric vehicle vision

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hopes the city’s famously congested roads will soon be buzzing with the hum of electric vehicles, after announcing the city’s Green New Deal on Monday (April 29).

The wide-ranging sustainability plan sets out how they hope to massively upscale the city’s percentage of zero-emission vehicles from just 1.4% in 2018 to 25% by 2025, 80% by 2035 and 100% by 2050.

Currently, there are 2,100 publically available EV charging stations but they plan to build another 10,000 by 2022 to support the transition.

He said the measures will ‘solidify’ LA’s position as a leader in EV vehicle infrastructure and green jobs.

‘With flames on our hillsides and floods in our streets, cities cannot wait another moment to confront the climate crisis with everything we’ve got,’ said the Mayor.

‘L.A. is leading the charge, with a clear vision for protecting the environment and making our economy work for everyone.’

Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics and Garcetti has previously said that he wants the Games to be a showcase for the possibilities of electric vehicles.

The city was also a leader in the creation of a new national platform for city fleet procurement, representing $10bn in investment, after 30 cities showed demand for over 114,000 electric vehicles of all types, including trash trucks, street sweepers, semis, shuttles, and buses.

Also announced as part of the deal was a commitment to make every building in Los Angeles ’emissions-free’ by 2050.

It follows New York City pledge to ban the construction of ‘inefficient’ all-glass skyscrapers by 30% before 2030.

Image credit – Pixabay