Governor Cooper announces NC has reached electric vehicle registration goal 2 years early

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina has surpassed initial electric vehicle registration goals two years early, according to Governor Roy Cooper.

In 2018, Governor Cooper signed Executive Order 80 calling on state agencies to evaluate their operations and set specific, firm, and ambitious goals to decrease emissions across the economy – including increasing the number of total zero-emission vehicles registered in North Carolina.

The order set an initial goal of 80,000 zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2025 and North Carolina has surpassed this goal as of November 2023.

“We knew the private markets were shifting to electric vehicles so we set bold goals that would help North Carolina communities be ready. Now it’s happening even faster than we anticipated,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “The key is making EVs more affordable with the assurance that charging stations are available most places, and that’s why we are modernizing state policies and working to build out charging infrastructure in every community all across North Carolina.”

Since 2018, state agencies, local governments, utilities, and private partners have worked together to build the robust charging infrastructure needed to support this accelerated growth, according to a press release. In the last 5 years, this effort increased the total number of accessible public charging ports across the state from 1,400 in 2019 to just under 4,000 today.