Last week, the U.S. Climate Alliance announced that Wisconsin and Hawaii have joined the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition, bringing the total number of participating states to 13.
So, what exactly is this coalition?
Launched in May 2025, the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition is a multi-state initiative led by the U.S. Climate Alliance. Its goal is to keep America on track toward cleaner and more affordable vehicles, while supporting U.S. automakers and workers and protecting states’ efforts to ensure clean air. The founding members included 11 states: California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
The coalition was created as a counterweight to the Trump Administration’s shifting transportation policies, which the U.S. Climate Alliance argues are destabilizing the electric vehicle (EV) market. These federal actions include cutting funding for EV charging infrastructure deployment, eliminating consumer purchase credits, and phasing out manufacturer tax incentives. More on the coalition’s specific goals can be found here.
States are taking on a growing responsibility in driving the transition to clean and affordable transportation as the federal government’s priorities shift. In a press release, participating governors jointly stated: “The federal government and Congress are putting polluters over people and creating needless chaos for consumers and the market, but our commitment to safeguarding Americans’ fundamental right to clean air is resolute. We will continue collaborating as states and leveraging our longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act, including through state programs that keep communities safe from pollution, create good-paying jobs, increase consumer choice, and help Americans access cleaner and more affordable cars.”
The U.S. EV market continues to remain strong, despite some month-to-month fluctuations in sales this year. In the first half of this year, nearly 737,000 light-duty EVs were sold in the U.S., a 5 percent increase over the same period last year. In June 2025 alone, light-duty EVs made up 10.4 percent of the total vehicle market, pointing to steady market momentum. Sales are expected to surge through September as consumers take advantage of the federal tax credit before it expires.
The onus doesn’t fall solely on states to sustain progress towards clean transportation deployment as federal support recedes – the private sector also plays a critical role in accelerating the adoption of affordable, cleaner vehicles across the U.S. While some automakers have scaled back their EV ambitions this year, others are moving forward with significant investments.
General Motors, for instance, launched the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV earlier this year, priced below $35,000 with a range of 319 miles. More recently, in August, Ford announced a $5 billion investment to boost affordable EV production, including $2 billion to modernize its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky and $3 billion for the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan to build lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Central to Ford’s plan is the production of a $30,000 midsize electric pickup, scheduled for release in 2027.
With federal support for clean transportation and EVs in retreat, both states and the private sector now bear a critical responsibility to provide market stability, safeguard progress, and expand consumer access to clean vehicles. For developments in the U.S. EV market, visit our sales dashboard here.
