Meadow Hill, a policy and advocacy firm, has announced on X that Vermont is not meeting its electric vehicle (EV) adoption targets and should reconsider its strategy moving forward.
According to the Addison County Independent, Vermont has adopted California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations. These regulations require that 35% of new light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2026. This mandate is part of a broader strategy to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner transportation. The ACC II rules apply to manufacturers, requiring them to deliver an increasing percentage of ZEVs to the state over time.
Data from Drive Electric VT indicates that as of January 2025, there are approximately 7,000 registered battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the state, representing about 1.5% of all registered vehicles. In contrast, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) account for around 4,000 registrations or roughly 0.9% of the total. Despite these numbers, the ACC II regulations primarily focus on BEVs and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), with limited credit given to PHEVs, especially those with shorter electric-only ranges. This distinction underscores the challenge Vermont faces in accelerating BEV adoption to meet the 2026 mandate.
According to Axios, infrastructure limitations further complicate Vermont’s path to achieving its ZEV goals. The state has approximately 300 public charging stations, many concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural regions underserved. This disparity poses a significant barrier to EV adoption in a state where rural travel is common. Additionally, Vermont’s cold climate can reduce battery efficiency, potentially deterring potential EV buyers concerned about range and reliability during winter months. Addressing these infrastructure and environmental challenges is crucial for Vermont to increase BEV adoption rates.
Matt Cota serves as the Managing Director of Meadow Hill. He provides advocacy and management services to Vermont-based nonprofit trade associations in sectors like energy, transportation, and housing. His work emphasizes public and government relations while aligning strategic communication with legislative insight. A former journalist with a master’s degree in public policy, Cota has also held public service roles on several local boards and founded the Split the Ticket Fund.
