These new national reports use the latest battery and infrastructure costs to show that with the right policy the U.S. can electrify all new car and truck sales by 2035, a transition that would save households $1,000 every year over the next 30 years, support 2 million jobs, and aid economic recovery efforts.
These reports demonstrate the feasibility of commitments made by 22 countries, California, Massachusetts, and major automakers to only sell electric vehicles by 2035, and underscore the importance of achieving President Biden’s plan to invest billions in electric vehicle infrastructure.
The 2035 time frame for electrifying all new car and truck sales is also significant because if paired with a 90 percent clean electricity grid, the U.S. would be on a path to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the target scientists say is required to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
Consumer savings start now, then rapidly accelerate. Electrifying all new car and truck sales by 2035 yields cumulative economic savings of approximately $2.7 trillion through 2050. This translates into a household savings of about $1,000 per year over the next 30 years.
150,000 premature deaths would be avoided by 2050, if electric cars and trucks are paired with a clean electricity grid. Transitioning to all new electric car and truck sales powered by a 90% clean electricity grid in 2035 would also provide nearly $1.3 trillion in health and environmental savings through 2050.
Switching to electric cars and trucks would support 2 million jobs in 2035. As electric vehicle sales ramp up, employment in vehicle manufacturing expands and the consumer savings from switching to electric cars and trucks creates induced jobs in the economy.
Charging infrastructure can be built quickly and cost-effectively. The investment in the infrastructure needed to support electric cars and trucks is modest compared to the benefits of electrifying all new car and truck sales and achieving a 90 percent clean electricity grid by 2035.
Transitioning to all-electric cars and trucks won’t crash the electricity grid. The power demand from electrifying all new car and truck sales by 2035 requires electricity generation to increase 2%–3% per year, consistent with the 2.6% average yearly growth in the electric sector. For clean energy to power all these new electric vehicles, on average 110 gigawatts of new wind and solar and 30 gigawatts of new battery storage must be installed each year. This ambitious target will require strong policy support, but it is not unprecedented internationally.
The United States can become a world leader in transportation electrification. Global lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity, a core component of electric vehicle production, will exceed 2,000 gigawatt hours by the late 2020s, enough to support the necessary battery capacity envisioned in the 2035 sales scenario. Moreover, with strong policies in the near term, the U.S. can lead the global push toward electric transportation.
Thank you for your interest and help in promoting!
Best,
The 2035 Report team
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About UC Berkeley’s Center for Environmental Public Policy
The Center for Environmental Public Policy, housed at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, takes an integrated approach to solving environmental problems and supports the creation and implementation of public policies that carefully define problems and match them with the best solutions.
About GridLab
GridLab is an innovative non-profit that provides technical grid expertise to enhance policy decision-making and to ensure a rapid transition to a reliable, cost effective, and low carbon future.
About Energy Innovation
Energy Innovation is a nonpartisan energy and environmental policy firm, delivering high-quality research and original analysis to policymakers to help them make informed choices on energy policy. Energy Innovation’s mission is accelerating clean energy by supporting the policies that most effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, working closely with policymakers, other experts, NGOs, the media, and the private sector.
