Michigan pushes electric future as some drivers hit the breaks
NORTHERN MICHIGAN (WPBN/WGTU) — Justine Johnson is leading the charge toward an electric future in Michigan.
“We are still laser focused on building a mobility ecosystem in the state of Michigan that is focused on clean energy,” said Johnson, the Chief Mobility Officer for Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification.
She’s working to get more electric vehicles on the road. Her team is focusing on infrastructure, the workforce to support that, along with policy.
In order to keep electric vehicles powered up, there’s a goal to put 100,000 chargers in place by 2030 to support two-million EVs.
There’s also a plan to create a Lake Michigan EV circuit with charging infrastructure every 50 miles.
The federal government is helping expand EV charging infrastructure in Michigan, with a $110 million price tag.
But will these efforts from the state affect electric vehicle sales? New information shows EV growth is slowing for some car companies.
Ford’s electric vehicle unit reported losses soared in the first quarter of 2024 to $1.3 billion. General Motors expects its EV business will turn profitable later this year. Stellantis said its European EV business was profitable last year. Tesla, the world’s largest EV maker, reported the first year-over-year drop in sales since the pandemic.
“What types of trends has AAA noticed from drivers when it comes to interest in EVs,” asked UpNorthLive’s Brendan Kinney.
“We’ve definitely noticed the trend of growing, that more and more people are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle for their next vehicle purchase… two of the biggest reasons for that being the cost of gas and the environment,” said Adrienne Woodland, a Public Relations Program Consultant at AAA.
Only 25% of U.S. adults say they’d be “very likely” or “likely” to buy an electric vehicle the next time they’re in the market for a new or used vehicle. That’s according to AAA.
“The experience of actually owning an electric vehicle eases one of the biggest fears of owning an EV which was range anxiety.”
Johnson is sending a message to those who are skeptical about buying an electric vehicle. She suggests getting inside an EV to experience it firsthand.
“I think a lot of people will have a very different level of understanding and appreciation for EVs. I think exposure is something that’s so important. As someone who is an EV owner I know the joy that I have of riding in a vehicle that is quieter and emissions free is something that’s really important,” said Johnson.
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