On March 1, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and Cadmus released the Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Policy Impact Rubric, a tool that enables jurisdictions to self-assess the strength of their light-duty PEV policies.
The Rubric is a four-page, easy-to-use guide that divides PEV policies into 13 “Policy Categories” that fall into three tiers based on their impact on light-duty PEV adoption. Among the most impactful, “Tier 1” policies are vehicle purchase incentives and vehicle adoption standards, followed by “Tier 2” and “Tier 3” policies exemplified by policy approaches such as EV charging station installation support and education and awareness campaigns, respectively. The Rubric’s scoring methodology is based on real-world data examining the impact of various approaches on vehicle adoption. While it places the greatest weight on high-impact “Tier 1” policies, “Tier 2” and “Tier 3” policies can be used in combination to meaningfully advance PEV adoption, reflecting a diversity of pathways policymakers can consider for their own states and communities. The Rubric is intended for state agencies, such as State Energy Offices, local governments, utilities, and other stakeholders who are interested in supporting light-duty vehicle electrification.
The Rubric was designed around a single purpose: to convey the impact of PEV policy on PEV adoption; as such, other considerations in policy design – such as cost-effectiveness, political feasibility, and co-benefits – are not included as elements of the Rubric. An exhaustive literature review of evidence-based policies underpins the Rubric, as well as input from a Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of PEV policy experts from state, local, and federal government, academia, and non-profit organizations. The Rubric was first released in 2018, and this updated version reflects recent changes in PEV policy design, including an “equity adder” which incentivizes policies targeting lower-income or other underserved purchasers. Electrify America – one of the largest charging infrastructure providers in the United States – used the 2018 and 2021 Rubrics to evaluate the policy environment of metropolitan regions throughout the country for its Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 investment plan.
“The PEV Policy Impact Rubric is a helpful tool that State Energy Offices and others can use to assess the suite of light-duty PEV policies within their state, and identify what combination of PEV policies may be right for them,” said David Terry, NASEO Executive Director. “We are pleased to offer this resource to states as they explore different ways to support electric vehicle adoption and work to advance their energy, climate, and economic development goals.”
A copy of the PEV Policy Impact Rubric can be found online here, and a summary of Supporting Materials for the Rubric can be found online here. Please contact Cassie Powers (cpowers@naseo.org) or Geoff Morrison (geoffrey.morrison@cadmusgroup.com) with any questions.