Zero Emission Vehicle Challenge launched

States, regions, cities and business around the world are joining forces to use their purchasing and policy influence to drive up global uptake of electric vehicles.

The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Challenge, led by The Climate Group and C40 Cities, is being supported by the State of California, New York City, EDF Energy, LeasePlan and Unilever. In addition the cities of Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Pittsburgh, Mexico City, and the regions of Australian Capital Territory and Navarra. 
 
They are urging the global auto industry to commit to accelerating the manufacture of electric vehicles and step up production to satisfy the growing demand. 

The initiative brings together some of the world’s largest states, regions, cities and businesses to show the global auto industry the full scale of demand that already exists for electric vehicles. It brings together existing, world leading programs, which up to now have been focused on separate sectors, to amplify their collective purchasing power and influence on the market.
 
Automakers are being asked to signal their willingness to work towards an endgame for combustion engine vehicles, and in the meantime commit to a ZEV percentage of sales by 2025.
 
More multinational businesses are being challenged to join EV100, the lead business commitment to fleet electricifation by 2030 and charging infrastrucuture, run by The Climate Group.
 
States and regions are called upon to join a new Under2 Coalition ZEV initiative, run in close cooperation with the ZEV Alliance, focused on procurement, infrastructure and policy.
 
What's more, some of the largest cities in the world are today also backing this call. 
   
This announcement is designed to accelerate trends already underway in several nations, regions, states and cities. Several countries like France and the UK have already announced end dates for the sale of vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel-fueled engines. Others like California have committed to putting 5 million zero-emission vehicles on their roads and highways by 2030.