L.A. regional partnership sets zero emissions transportation targets to achieve 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution

Dec. 2, 2019
The Transportation Electrification Partnership commits to developing policies and pilots in 2020 to achieve new targets for EVs, charging infrastructure, mode shift and zero-emissions trucks.

The Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0 has been released by the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and its partners, which plans to accelerate the deployment of zero-emissions electric cars, buses, trucks and charging station across the Los Angeles region.  

Achieving the roadmap's targets and call to action will result in cleaner air for L.A. residents and reduce the region's transportation sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, going 25 percent beyond existing commitments tied to California state law and the Paris Climate Accord. 

"We can't turn the tide on the climate crisis until we work across sectors and city limits to put the brakes on dangerous pollution and kick our zero-emissions transportation future into high gear," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "Our Roadmap 2.0 charts a course toward a healthier region with a cleaner transit network—and draws up a blueprint for cities worldwide to follow, so all of us can invest in the smart policies and green energy that will strengthen our families' well-being and quality of life for generations to come." 

The Roadmap 2.0 outlines how this vision can become a reality for the L.A. region, embodying a commitment from public and private members of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP). Together, the partners will work together in the coming year to develop policies, implement pilots and seek other strategies to achieve the targets in the roadmap. 

"The Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0 report doubles down on the bold steps we must take to accelerate clean air and climate action in Los Angeles and across the state," said Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). "Together, we can serve as a model for California, the nation and the world by building a state-of-the-art transportation system that moves people and goods cleanly, efficiently and sustainably throughout the region." 

For the second edition of the Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap, the TEP partners have committed to working individually and collectively towards the 25 percent goal through a three-pronged call to action to ensure: 

  • Electric vehicles account for 30 percent of all light-duty passenger vehicles on the road and at least 80 percent of all vehicles sold; 

  • 20 percent of all trips in single occupancy vehicles shift to zero-emissions public transport, bikes or other active transportation options; and 

  • All public investments into surface vehicles and related infrastructure for goods movement will advance zero-emissions solutions and that the I-710 is the first zero-emissions goods movement corridor in the nation. 

"The bold targets we set together in the Zero Emissions Roadmap 2.0 are key to ensuring that we address the largest source of California's GHGs and the region's greatest source of air pollution: how we move ourselves and goods around the region," said Matt Petersen, LACI President and CEO. "The Transportation Electrification Partnership brings together the sectors we need to go further, faster together—we invite everyone to join us in achieving our ambitious targets and call to action." 

According to LACI, the TEP partners prioritize equity for disadvantaged communities that both lack access to first- and last-mile solutions and disproportionately suffer from health impacts, including asthma and heart attacks, associated with fossil-fueled transportation. In response, TEP and LACI recently announced mobility pilot projects representing a total investment of $500,000 to bring EV car sharing and micromobility to four disadvantaged communities–Pacoima, San Pedro, Long Beach and Huntington Park–that lack adequate mobility options. 

The Zero Emissions Roadmap 2.0 initiative was announced at the La Kretz Innovation Campus in downtown Los Angeles with a launch event showcasing innovative technologies that will help achieve the targets laid out in the plan, including the Audi e-tron, BMW i3, Proterra battery electric bus, BYD electric transit bus, Nissan New Mobility Concept (Twizy), an Envoy car-share vehicle, a BlueLA car-share vehicle, a Mobi EV charger and a Los Angeles Department of Transportation bus.