Transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions account for about 35% of the total emissions produced by Washington state government agencies.
As the state encourages residents to invest in electric vehicles EVs to reduce emissions, some Washingtonians question why they should spend tens of thousands on an EV when many police and other officials still drive gas-powered SUVs, pickups, and sedans.
To address this, Washington aims to replace all gas-powered government vehicles with electric ones by 2040 through a new initiative led by the Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council.
In November 2021, Governor Jay Inslee issued an executive order requiring state agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and set a path to transition entirely to battery-electric vehicles by 2040.
At the council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, representatives from various state agencies discussed progress on this initiative. Hanna Waterstrat, director of the Office of State Efficiency and Environmental Performance, provided an update on the state’s fleet electrification.
Washington’s goal is to have at least 40% of its light-duty vehicles—such as sedans, SUVs, and light trucks—be battery-electric by 2025, with 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2035. For medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, the target is 100% electrification by 2040.
Currently, the state has about 10,000 government vehicles, with 20% of its light-duty fleet already electric. This marks a doubling from the previous year. The state recently acquired 39 more electric vehicles to add to its fleet, with plans for 40-50% of new and replacement vehicles to be electric in the next year.
Waterstrat recognized several agencies, including the Office of the Governor and the Department of Commerce, for meeting or exceeding the 2025 target.
For agencies still purchasing gas-powered vehicles, exemptions can be requested for reasons such as vehicle availability, safety, or lack of charging infrastructure. Waterstrat noted that availability has improved, although challenges remain.
Some agencies, like jails and prisons, have safety concerns about charging EVs while transporting people, and others, such as the Department of Ecology, are dealing with mixed results when using electric vehicles for heavy-duty tasks like towing boats. Despite some concerns, many staff report that the performance of electric vehicles has exceeded expectations.
However, a consistent charging infrastructure is needed to ensure staff confidence when using EVs for longer trips.