HB2515 – Requires new cars and pickups sold or registered in the state to be powered by batteries or fuel cells, starting in 2030.
Prime Sponsor – Representative Macri (D; 43rd District; Seattle)
Current status – Scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Transportation February 10th at 1:30 PM.
Next step would be – Action by the committee.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.

Summary –
Starting with the 2030 models, new cars and pickups sold or registered in the state would have to be battery powered fully electric vehicles or fuel cell vehicles. (Emergency services vehicles would be exempted.) In consultation with a number of other state agencies that deal with transportation, the State Transportation Commission would develop a plan for meeting the requirement during a transition period beginning in 2021.

The plan would include:
(a) An estimate of the number of new and used electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles registered in Washington each year during the transition;
(b) An estimate of the number, type, year of installation, and location profile of the charging stations needed for prompt, efficient, and cost-effective fueling of the vehicles during the transition period, and of the yearly investments required to build them;
(c) An analysis of the generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades and build-out needed and the investment required for those;
(d) An analysis comparing the estimated purchase prices of new electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles during the transition;
(e) An analysis comparing their estimated total costs of ownership during the transition ;
(f) An analysis of yearly job gains and losses during the transition as a result of the 2030 requirement;
(g) An analysis of its effects on state transportation revenues, and recommendations as to alternative sources of revenue to replace the gas tax;
(h) An estimate of the yearly decreases in gasoline and diesel sales as a result of the requirement, and of the money that would have otherwise been spent elsewhere retained in Washington;
(i) An analysis of the impacts on equity for low-income persons, and strategies for maximizing that in implementing the requirement;
(j) An assessment of potential impacts on passenger vehicle operations and charging infrastructure from developments in autonomous and shared services; and
(k) Recommendations for effectively coordinating with neighboring provincial and state jurisdictions so that infrastructure investments are coordinated, accessible, and sufficient to ensure an enduring, cost-effective, and adaptive transition.

The plan is to be submitted to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation issues, and updated in 2025 and 2028.

By January 1, 2024 the Transportation Commission is to develop rules consistent with this plan to implement the 2030 requirement. (In the process, it is to maximize equity and total benefits to the state while minimizing costs and risks; minimize the administrative burden of implementing and complying with the regulations; rely upon the best available economic and scientific information about existing and projected technology capabilities; consult with a list of stakeholders in order to minimize duplicative or inconsistent requirements; and revise and adopt rules to accelerate or otherwise facilitate the intent of this law.)

The Transportation Commission is to appoint a committee to advise it in developing the scoping plan and to inform the rule-making process, composed of representatives from communities in the state that are likely to experience the greatest benefits or disadvantages from the act act including rural communities, communities of color, and low-income communities. (Members are to be chosen from people nominated by community members and other stakeholders.)

It’s also to appoint an economic and technology advancement advisory committee to advise it on ways to facilitate investment in and implementation of technological research and development opportunities that will help in shifting to electric vehicles, including demonstration projects; on funding opportunities; and on developing partnerships and technology transfer opportunities.

It’s to consult on effective strategies and methods with other states, the federal government, and to use the recommendations of the advisory committee and of consultations
in developing the scoping plan and adopting rules.