Project's transportation director sees California at the forefront of EV movement.

• Author: Dano, Mike
• Position: Interview

As the Nissan Leaf, the Testa Model S and other electric vehicles make their way onto Colorado streets, lawmakers, sustainability advocates and others are working to ensure the state's infrastructure and political climate can support the growth of the electric vehicle industry. Will Toor, director of transportation at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, discussed the opportunities and challenges in the electric vehicle industry in Colorado and nationwide.

CB: Colorado lawmakers passed half a dozen bills promoting electric vehicles this year. What prompted this new wave of support?

WT: "About a year and a half ago, Colorado Clean Cities convened the electric vehicle community in Colorado around doing this major study into electric vehicles. They called the whole thing Project FEVER. It was the first time all of the people in Colorado with interest in electric vehicles came together to look at the state of EV policy to understand where the policy gaps were. I think that really made a difference. It activated folks, and it helped make clear what the important policy levers were so we were able to work with legislators to introduce bills.

"One of the most important things that came out of that Project FEVER report was the base analysis of electric vehicle emissions. Sometimes people make the argument that there's no real value to EVs because you're just going from burning gasoline to burning coal (to provide electricity for electric vehicles). And what the Project FEVER report did is the very technical work of showing what that emissions trajectory is: It shows that over the next few years, electric vehicles really do have a significant advantage. And that, I think, was key to that discussion."

CB: Is there a state that's setting the bar in terms of electric vehicles?

WT: "I think California is probably the state that is the furthest along of any right now. The governor gave an executive order saying that he wanted 1.5 million electric vehicles on the road by 2025, and directed state agencies to take necessary actions to make that happen. They've adopted clean car standards that include a zero emissions mandate. And they're investing $100 million into electric vehicle infrastructure across the state."

CB: Beyond policy, can you talk about what you think would be the top catalysts that would drive the electric vehicle market forward?

WT: "I think one of the things really has to do with awareness of electric vehicles. People love electric...