Pasadena Becomes a National Leader in Zero-Emission Vehicle Adoption

Pasadena has emerged as a national leader in zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption, with city officials reporting a 600-fold increase in registered ZEVs since 2012. The data, presented as part of a report about a new Clean Energy Tracker at Tuesday’s Municipal Services Committee meeting, positions Pasadena at the forefront of the clean transportation revolution.

According to Kelly Nguyen, Assistant General Manager for Pasadena Water and Power overseeing the Power Supply Division, the city had 12,632 registered zero-emission vehicles by 2023.

This surge in adoption represents approximately 45,280 tons of avoided emissions, highlighting the significant environmental impact of the city’s transition to cleaner transportation.

“Pasadena has long been expanding the adoption of ZEVs in the city and now has the distinction of having one of the highest number of registered ZEVs in the nation,” Nguyen said during the Committee meeting.

The city’s success in ZEV adoption is partly attributed to its participation in programs such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. These initiatives have enabled Pasadena Water and Power to invest in ZEV infrastructure and provide the community with a growing number of public charging locations, further incentivizing residents to make the switch to electric vehicles.

While California leads in EV adoption, national trends are also showing growth. In 2023, electric vehicles made up about 7.6% of new car sales nationally, up from 5.8% in 2022, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy.