The White House highlighted new moves by U.S. companies to support electric vehicles (EVs) on Thursday, as final rules on tax credits aimed at boosting the industry are expected this week.
The White House announced that Amazon (AMZN.O) is deploying the first 3,000 delivery vehicles it has acquired as part of a commitment to put 100,000 vehicles on the road by 2030 and that First Student, a major provider of school bus services, is pledging to replace 30,000 fossil fuel-powered school buses with electric buses by 2035.
According to the White House, the federal government will purchase 13,000 light- and medium-duty zero-emission vehicles this fiscal year, nearly four times the number purchased the previous fiscal year.
President Joe Biden has made electrifying the nation’s vehicle fleet a central component of his climate change strategy, investing millions of taxpayer dollars in new charging stations and tax breaks for businesses and consumers.
The administration is expected to release final rules on eligibility for $7,500 EV tax credits on Friday, including how much of the car’s battery must be made in the United States.
The White House announced that Google will provide up-to-date information about the availability and coverage of tax credits across eligible passenger vehicles through a new search tool.
According to the White House, Wells Fargo will also release a new tool to assist businesses in evaluating electric vehicle fleets by modeling deployment that incorporates the cost of electrification, tax credits, cost savings, and environmental benefits.
