New car dealers are all-in on electric vehicles (EVs), but New Jersey needs to put its money where its mouth is, or the State will fail to achieve its Clean Car mandates. There are two major obstacles to greater EV adoption—vehicle affordability and an underdeveloped charging infrastructure. As someone who makes their living in the New Jersey franchised auto retailing industry, I hear about the barriers from my customers every day. The New Jersey Senate and Assembly will soon consider legislation that FINALLY puts concrete policy and funding in place to overcome these hurdles. The draft being discussed is a great start, but a few changes will make it a true milestone in EV legislation. Please consider a few amendments to the EV legislation when it comes up for debate in the Senate and Assembly. The legislation currently addresses affordability by creating a $300 million rebate program to close the price gap between an EV and gas-powered vehicle, but it only refers to “Plug-In Vehicles.” This leaves out hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which have an equally beneficial impact on the environment. The final legislation must make it clear that incentives apply to both Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and PHEVs that are purchased (or leased) in New Jersey, which will maximize the benefit to the entire EV market. Affordability also needs to be addressed by manufacturers. Current law requires automakers to simply “deliver” clean cars for sale in the State. The New Jersey Clean Car law must be changed to require EVs be “sold or leased” or “placed in service” before an automaker can earn credit. Giving them skin in the game is the only way manufacturers will have the incentive to properly price and equip EVs to sell. New Jersey’s underdeveloped charging infrastructure is the other major obstacle to greater EV adoption. I strongly support the legislation’s aggressive schedule for installing charging equipment at hundreds of locations around the State, which will begin to relieve the range anxiety felt by many consumers. New Jersey won’t see any environmental benefits if EVs stand idle on dealership lots because our customers (and your constituents) can’t afford them or are afraid of being stranded without a charge. I promise you, if the most pressing affordability and infrastructure obstacles are addressed, the auto retail industry stands ready to relentlessly promote, sell, and deliver EVs to our customers. Please consider the amendments discussed above when the EV legislation comes up for debate in the Senate and Assembly.

New Jersey needs to put its money where its mouth is, or the State will fail to achieve its Clean Car mandates. New car dealers are all-in on electric vehicles (EVs), but there are two major obstacles to greater EV adoption—vehicle affordability and an underdeveloped charging infrastructure. As someone who makes their living in the New Jersey franchised auto retailing industry, I hear about the barriers from my customers every day. The New Jersey Senate and Assembly will soon consider legislation that FINALLY puts concrete policy and funding in place to overcome these hurdles. The draft being discussed is a great start, but a few changes will make it a true milestone in EV legislation. Please consider a few amendments to the EV legislation when it comes up for debate in the Senate and Assembly. The legislation currently addresses affordability by creating a $300 million rebate program to close the price gap between an EV and gas-powered vehicle, but it only refers to “Plug-In Vehicles.” This leaves out hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which have an equally beneficial impact on the environment. The final legislation must make it clear that incentives apply to both Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and PHEVs that are purchased (or leased) in New Jersey, which will maximize the benefit to the entire EV market. Affordability also needs to be addressed by manufacturers. Current law requires automakers to simply “deliver” clean cars for sale in the State. The New Jersey Clean Car law must be changed to require EVs be “sold or leased” or “placed in service” before an automaker can earn credit. Giving them skin in the game is the only way manufacturers will have the incentive to properly price and equip EVs to sell. New Jersey’s underdeveloped charging infrastructure is the other major obstacle to greater EV adoption. I strongly support the legislation’s aggressive schedule for installing charging equipment at hundreds of locations around the State, which will begin to relieve the range anxiety felt by many consumers. New Jersey won’t see any environmental benefits if EVs stand idle on dealership lots because our customers (and your constituents) can’t afford them or are afraid of being stranded without a charge. I promise you, if the most pressing affordability and infrastructure obstacles are addressed, the auto retail industry stands ready to relentlessly promote, sell, and deliver EVs to our customers. Please consider the amendments discussed above when the EV legislation comes up for debate in the Senate and Assembly.