ZETA group launched in US to enable 100% EV sales by 2030

The Zero Emission Transportation Association was launched Nov. 17 by 28 businesses in the US to advocate national policies that will enable 100% electric vehicle sales throughout the light-, medium-, and heavy-duty sectors by 2030.

ZETA is the first industry coalition of its kind in the US that calls for an accelerated transition to electric vehicles, which it said would secure US global EV manufacturing leadership, dramatically improve public health, significantly reduce carbon pollution and create many new jobs.

The 28 founding members include Albemarle, Copper Development Association, Piedmont Lithium, Tesla, Volta and Uber, among many others.

The association is calling for five key policy pillars to put the US on the pathway to full EV adoption by 2030, including outcome-driven consumer EV incentives; emission targets enabling full electrifications by 2030; infrastructure investments; domestic manufacturing; and federal leadership and cooperation with sub-national entities.

ZETA said that point-of-sale consumer incentives would drive adoption, provide cost reductions and achieve real results in pushing transportation electrification, with it adding that incentivizing early retirements while encouraging EV adoption will speed the transition and meet the urgency of the moment.

"Emission targets are a key piece of protecting public health and sending the correct market signals to support and accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation," it added.

The association noted that the electric transportation transition would be driven by strong federal charging infrastructure investments, while it added that domestic manufacturing would not only accelerate US transportation electrification, but also work to ensure domestic economic growth and leadership in EV manufacturing.

"Federal policies must encourage job creation and economic activity across the entire EV supply chain and lifecycle, from critical materials to vehicles," ZETA said.

It added that federal support should invest in research and development, provide an aligned vision for electrification, and ensure local leaders were empowered with the expertise and resources to support full vehicle electrification.

ZETA executive director Joe Britton pointed out that, for the first time in a generation, transportation was the leading emitter of US carbon emissions, but federal policymakers could help drive innovation, create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and improve air quality and public health by embracing EVs.

"ZETA's formation recognizes a pivotal moment for national leadership and reflects the will of the growing clean transportation sector," Britton said.

"The next decade will be critical in implementing federal policies that accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and help address these problems head-on," he said.

ZETA said the it would also be launching the ZETA Education Fund, an affiliated group focused on educating the public on the environmental and social benefits and opportunities associated with broad EV adoption.