Electrifying transportation is critical to meeting climate goals, cutting emissions, and improving air quality—but the path forward isn’t always straightforward. In our recent webinar, ACT brought together experts from city government, federal policy, academia, and industry to unpack how municipalities can continue driving forward on EV adoption—despite shifting federal guidance and evolving economic pressures.

Moderated by Alistair Pim, ACT’s Vice President of Innovation & Partnerships, the conversation covered timely policy developments, practical planning strategies, and opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. Here are the key takeaways from the session:

John Lushetsky, SVP at ML Strategies and former senior official at the U.S. Department of Energy, provided a critical federal policy update: DOT has paused funding for EV infrastructure projects to review previously committed dollars under updated guidance. This puts many state and local projects in a holding pattern and underscores the importance of diversified funding strategies.

While 30D (EV purchase) and 30C (charging infrastructure) tax credits are still available, John noted that they're subject to federal budget review, meaning municipalities should stay alert to potential changes and act quickly to leverage existing incentives.

Tariffs on imported EVs and related technologies may raise the cost of vehicles and charging infrastructure, a concern especially for cities with limited capital to invest in fleet transitions. These changes make long-term planning and bulk procurement strategies even more important.

Dr. Jay Golden, Director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab at Syracuse University, brought a systems-level perspective, highlighting the unintended consequences, risks, and opportunities in the transition. He emphasized that successful, long-term sustainability depends on building adaptive, resilient partnerships that can navigate an unpredictable policy landscape.

As fuel tax revenues decline with the rise of electric vehicles, Jay also raised the need for new models to fund road maintenance and infrastructure, a long-term issue that local governments must begin addressing now.

Karen Apple, Electric Vehicle Program Manager for the City of Phoenix, shared how her city is navigating these challenges by taking a proactive approach to fleet electrification, coordinating across departments, implementing EV-ready building codes, and leveraging utility and state partnerships. Tools like ACT’s Fleet Electrification Guidebook, she emphasized, are invaluable for turning ambition into action—especially for smaller municipalities.

The Bottom Line: ACT!

Despite the uncertainties, one theme rang clear across the conversation: now is the time to act. Local governments don’t have to go it alone—by building community, partnering across sectors, and leveraging available tools, we can keep making forward progress.

If you missed the conversation, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for a recording and download our Fleet Electrification Guidebook to get started on your local strategy today.