Cleaner, electrified transportation will provide benefits to all Rhode Islanders. Every electric car added to our roads provides hundreds of dollars of benefits each year.

Electric vehicle owners are not the only residents who will experience savings from transportation electrification—all Rhode Islanders will benefit. Starting with electricity rates—electrification will lower electric rates due to increased electric utility revenues from electric vehicle charging. This additional revenue can support operation and maintenance of the existing distribution infrastructure. In addition, all residents of the state will benefit from lower emissions and cleaner air.1‍

Even greater benefits are projected from electric trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles, where electric vehicles also eliminate tailpipe emissions of harmful local air pollution.

Disadvantaged populations across Rhode Island currently experience the most harmful impacts from transportation emissions. Low-income households also spend a larger portion of their income on home energy costs,3 and Rhode Island is among the states with the highest energy burden. These populations stand to benefit greatly from increased electrification that reduces emissions in our neighborhoods and workplaces and lowers electricity costs and overall energy burdens.4

In addition, the lack of reliable public and shared transportation places a significant burden on populations that either cannot afford a vehicle or are unable to operate a vehicle which tend to be low-income populations, elderly populations, and people with disabilities. Without access to a personal vehicle, communities are subject to public transportation systems that lack frequent service and are unable to service first-last mile transportation needs. This has been shown to be especially important for elderly populations.  As a state with a large elderly population, Rhode Island has significant opportunity to improve elderly resident connectivity, leading to better health outcomes and community.