Introduction
With recent changes in people’s attitude toward fuel vehicles, more and more drivers substitute traditional cars with electric models. As noted by Tomberlin (2019), such a decision is not only beneficial for the environment but also cost-effective.
The proportion of New Energy Vehicles
According to “EV market share by state” (2019), in Alabama alone, the market of electric vehicles experienced a 127.30% growth rate, shifting from an average of 381 to 866 sales per year. While the numbers seem relatively low when compared to the leading states, such as California (153,442) and New York (15,752), Alabamian statistics indicate an ongoing process of increasing environmental awareness among state residents (“EV market share by state,” 2019).
Share Sold in the US and Alabama
As supported by Bolton (2018), the market share also depends on the brand of electric cars. While Tesla remains the most selling vehicle on the east coast, Alabama Power gains popularity in the South, hitting a one-million selling rate, and constituting 20% of the entire Alabama fuel vehicles (Bolton, 2018). Such proportion leaves hope for the continual process of transition from gasoline to electricity in car production.
Policies, Plans, Evaluations
To encourage the development and distribution of new energy vehicles, the local government in Alabama introduces incentive policies. As explained by Tomberlin (2019), Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey, suggested increasing state fuel taxes while reducing taxes on energy-efficient vehicles for drivers who choose electric and hybrid cars. With such legislation, the official hopes to lower the flat fee, motivating state residents to take action against air pollution. However, as pointed out by Tracy (2019), the new bill raised several controversial comments from the public. While some people labeled the initiative an unfair tax, others complimented the law as a fair share for the harm done to the environment (Tracy, 2019).
Concluding Sentence
Despite the current heated debate among drivers, it is clear that Alabama takes a direct course to substitute fuel vehicles with more energy-efficient options.
References
Bolton, K. (2018) Alabama Power celebrates 1 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads. Web.
EV market share by state (2019). Web.
Sharp, J. (2019) ‘Unfair tax’ or ‘fair share’? New fees for electric and hybrid vehicles prompt debate in Alabama. Web.
Tomberlin, M. (2019) Alabama electric vehicle owners praise benefits of going electric. Web.
Tracy, K. (2019) Alabama, reject electric vehicle and hybrid taxes. Web.