Photo: ODOT

Oregon has made significant progress toward its transportation electrification goals thanks to financial incentives for electric vehicle buyers, a growing market of new and used EV models, and an expanding charging network, according to a new report published by the Oregon Department of Energy.

This second edition of the Biennial Zero Emission Vehicle Report, assigned to the agency by the Oregon Legislature in 2019, shows how the EV landscape has changed dramatically over the last two years. Nearly 70,000 EVs are registered on Oregon roads, up from just 38,000 in 2021 – and only 300 just over a decade ago. In the first quarter of 2023, EV sales exceeded 16 percent of all new vehicle sales, making Oregon second only to California in percentage of EV sales. More medium- and heavy-duty EVs are joining Oregon fleets, especially transit buses, school buses, and delivery vans, and the state’s first electric semi-truck – built in Portland – hit Oregon roads in 2023.

Oregon has bold EV adoption goals, outlined in 2019’s Senate Bill 1044, including having at least 250,000 registered EVs on Oregon roads by 2025. While it’s unlikely the state will hit that next target, the goal to have 25 percent of registrations and at least 50 percent of vehicle sales be electric by 2030 is within reach, according to adoption data trends. Oregon is even likely to exceed the goal of 90 percent of all sales being electric by 2035 thanks to strong policies, an evolving EV market, and financial incentives.

“Oregon is a leader on electric vehicle adoption,” said ODOE Director and EV owner Janine Benner. “It’s exciting to see that we could meet our ambitious targets for EVs, which offer quieter rides, cheaper fuel, and lower maintenance costs. We hope this new report provides useful information for Oregon policymakers and leaders as the state continues making progress on cleaning up the way we travel and move goods.”

While EVs are currently registered in every Oregon county, not all Oregonians have been able to access these clean vehicles due to lack of awareness and comfort about the vehicles, higher up-front costs, and less access to or anxiety about vehicle charging. Low-income and rural areas, multi-unit housing residents, and renters are at risk of being left behind. Educational resources like GoElectric.Oregon.gov and financial incentives like the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s EV rebates can help support a more equitable transition to EVs.

An influx of federal funding will further support transportation electrification – including improved tax credit incentives. The Oregon Department of Transportation has also secured federal dollars to strengthen EV charging infrastructure along Oregon’s travel corridors and in local communities. Vehicle manufacturers are also stepping up by providing additional passenger EVs, and many companies plan to have most, if not all, models be electric in the next 15 years. Oregon’s electric utilities also play a critical role and are well prepared to welcome additional EV-related loads to their networks over the next decade. Many utilities also offer local incentives for EVs or charging infrastructure.

Electric vehicles are an important tool for reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions for the transportation sector, which accounts for about a third of Oregon’s emissions. While the sector has not yet achieved its proportionate share of emissions reductions for the state’s 2020 goal, electrification efforts and bold policies like Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program put the state on a better track to meet its future goals.

The Oregon Department of Energy’s report is available on the agency’s website, and Oregonians can learn more about electric vehicles at GoElectric.Oregon.gov.

Source: Oregon Department of Energy

Rick O'Bryan