US state Michigan has unveiled a new electric vehicle (EV)
charging infrastructure package to increase access to EV charging
for the public, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a
US-based, nonprofit international environmental advocacy group,
reported on 28 June. The package aims to create tax incentives for
small businesses and multiunit housing to install EV charging
stations and allow the state to install EV charging stations at
state parks and state "park and ride" lots, either directly or by
lease. The package calls for chargers to be available on state
property, at the workplace, and in condominiums and apartments. The
state would also create a council within the Michigan Department of
Transportation (MDOT) to facilitate expansion and management of
Michigan's EV charging infrastructure.
Significance: Michigan is looking to make a
quick transition from being an internal combustion engine (ICE)
vehicle-dependent state to having a much higher share of EVs on the
state roads. Michigan is one of the leading automotive
manufacturing states in the United States and accounts for nearly
23% of all US auto production. Two of the top EV models, the
Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan LEAF, are manufactured in Michigan.
General Motors has recently announced that it is planning to
manufacture a new Chevrolet brand EV at its plant in Michigan. GM
will be investing
USD300 million in the Michigan assembly plant and 400 new jobs
will be added. Ford also has
announced plans to invest USD850 million in its Flat Rock
assembly plant in Michigan through 2023 to produce battery electric
vehicles (BEVs). However, the state's contribution toward BEV
production is only 0.34%. According to IHS Markit, out of the
approximately 595,000 EVs sold in the United States during 2018,
only 2% were sold in Michigan. One of the reasons cited for the low
confidence of the residents on EVs is the lack of charging
infrastructure in the state, with just over 1,000 chargers
operational. The new package will help change this scenario.
Read more articles like this one. Subscribe to
SupplierInsight
The above article is from SupplierInsight
by IHS Markit. SupplierInsight provides a wealth of original
thought leadership, data, and analysis on a broad spectrum of
automotive industry topics and sectors. Content includes news and
analysis, topical reports, supplier profiles, and an
automaker-supplier relations database across 13 domains. Visit SupplierInsight
to view all our offerings.
