Fossil Fuel powered vehicles are a leading cause of climate change and governments can help manage climate change by supporting the switch to electric vehicles (EVs).

We are on the cusp of an EV explosions, the growing interest in hybrids can be seen as a bridge technology that leads to fully electric vehicles. Although the Senate Energy Committee recently passed an electric vehicle bill, ongoing changes in public policy are needed to make the switch from fossil fuel engines to EVs.

There are many things governments can do to increase the adoption of EVs. Governments can fund advanced battery research, they can purchase fleets of EVs, and they can support EV mass production. Largely by encouraging private investment, governments can also assist with the development of charging EV infrastructure. Government should enforce a low-carbon fuel standard and power plant emissions regulations as well as fill regulatory gaps.

The ultimate energy objective is to find a way to manage increasing demand for energy while improving air quality and decreasing CO2 emissions. EVs offer a meaningful way of decreasing growing emissions, they are one of the keys to solving the environmental and energy challenges we face.

The transition away from fossil fuel powered transportation is as important to the war against climate change as investment in renewables, smart grid technology and efficiency initiatives. However, it will take sustained public policy action to help EVs make the leap from promising technology to commonplace reality.