Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Capitol Confidential announced on X that the state is 1.91 million registered electric vehicles short of meeting Governor Gretchen Whitmer's goal of 2 million EVs by 2030.

According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Governor Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, released in April 2022 by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), mandates that Michigan build sufficient public charging infrastructure to support 2 million electric vehicles on state roads by 2030. This initiative is central to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. The plan was established under Executive Directive 2020-10 and represents a key part of Michigan’s pathway toward carbon neutrality by 2050, incorporating public engagement and inter-agency coordination. EGLE’s roadmap emphasizes expanding EV charging capacity alongside broader climate and equity goals.

According to Michigan Capitol Confidential, Michigan had registered 46,792 EVs, reaching just 2.3 percent of Governor Whitmer’s goal of 2 million EVs. This leaves approximately 1.95 million vehicles to be added over the next several years. The report also notes that the state’s EV adoption to date is insufficient, calculating that Michigan would need to register over 29,000 EVs per month for 67 months to meet its 2030 target. These figures are grounded in analysis by energy experts and sourced from state vehicle registration data.

Michigan Capitol Confidential reported that of the state’s roughly 50,000 EVs on the road, residents would still need to purchase approximately 1.95 million additional EVs by 2030. This means the state must sustain 32,500 new EV registrations per month for five years to achieve Whitmer’s goal. The analysis was derived from data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on statewide vehicle registrations and represents a stark contrast to current EV adoption rates, implying an almost twenty-fold increase is needed. These figures highlight the scale of the policy challenge and the urgency of boosting EV incentives and infrastructure.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and reports with a free-market news perspective. As traditional news coverage in Michigan has declined, it provides independent scrutiny of elected officials and government agencies. Readers can expect precise news reporting as well as analysis and opinion pieces focused on issues relevant to Michigan’s public policy landscape.