Accelerating Equitable EV Adoption: Challenges and Opportunities in the US
Aug 13th 10AM to 11AM PST
The State and Makeup of EV Adoption in the US
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is steadily rising, driven by incentives, new models and infrastructure investments. Currently, 8% of new car sales are electric, up from 4% in 2023, with California (25%), Washington, D.C. (18%) and Hawaii (18%) leading the way. However, significant challenges remain. High purchase costs, uneven access to charging infrastructure and political debates hinder broader adoption. These obstacles disproportionately affect underserved communities, raising critical questions about equity in the EV market.
Join Forth and our expert panel in this webinar as we dissect the state of EV adoption in the US, explore buyers and underserved populations impacted by these challenges, and discuss strategies to ensure equitable access to EVs. We'll also delve into the role of incentives and what more is needed to foster inclusive growth.
Moderator:
Tom Taylor, Senior Policy Analyst, Atlas Public Policy
Tom is a Senior Policy Analyst at Atlas Public Policy. He produces reports and data stories related to climate solutions and is particularly focused on ensuring that this content is accessible to policymakers and the public. Tom leads multiple projects including the Climate Program Portal, the Clean Economy Tracker and EV Jobs Hub. Before starting at Atlas in 2021, Tom worked at the Department of Health and Human Services in Melbourne, Australia, where he worked on housing outcomes for people living in public housing. Tom holds a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Research and Public Policy from New York University Abu Dhabi. He was a Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Fellow in 2023.
Speakers:
Ed de la Fuente, Senior Program Manager, Forth
Ed leads the Access to Cars programs team with the mission to reduce barriers and provide equitable access to electric vehicles. He has focused his career on product innovation and bringing new technology solutions to market, most recently in the Smart Cities and Intelligent Transportation sector. Ed holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Rosa Davies, Business Development Director, Veloz
Rosa Davies serves as the Business Development Director at Veloz. She has six years of institutional knowledge in public charging and an overall 10 years working with renewable energies. Most recently, Rosa served as a Business Development Director with prior experience as a Site Development Director expanding EVgo’s national footprint though out their early hyper-growth stage. Rosa has a deep understanding of the nuances behind charger placement, design, and development.
David Reichmuth, Senior Engineer - Clean Transportation Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
David Reichmuth is a senior engineer in the Clean Transportation program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. His work focuses on analyzing new vehicle technologies and advocating for policies that support the increased electrification of transportation. Dr. Reichmuth has testified at hearings before the US House of Representatives, the California State Legislature, and the California Air Resources Board, and he is an expert on California’s Zero Emission Vehicles regulation. He has authored several reports on the emissions from current vehicles and the benefits of electric vehicles, including Cleaner Cars from Cradle to Grave, Going from Pump to Plug, and Inequitable Exposure to Air Pollution from Vehicles in California.