Auto giants and California team up for electric vehicle push

Major automakers are joining with California officials and big power companies to launch a multi-million dollar campaign aimed at speeding up adoption of electric vehicles in the state.

Why it matters: California, the world's fifth-largest economy, is by far the country's largest auto market. However, while EV deployment there is growing, carbon emissions from transportation are still rising in the state.

What's happening: Wednesday saw the official launch of a non-profit organization called Veloz and the group's first project called "Electric For All," which is billed as "the largest multi-stakeholder, multi-million dollar public awareness campaign in North America."

• California state officials have an existing goal set under Gov. Jerry Brown of having 5 million electric vehicles on the state's roads by 2030, but the new initiative is a recognition of barriers that need addressing.
• The initiative also comes as the Trump administration is seeking to roll back federal auto efficiency and emissions mandates.

The companies, state agencies and others involved include:

• GM, Honda, Nissan and other automakers.
• Officials from the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission and other state agencies.
• Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and other power companies.
• EV charging companies, including EVgo, Electrify America (which is a unit of VW) and Greenlots.
• Environmental and advocacy groups like the Sierra Club and the World Resources Institute.

What they're saying: "Pollution from cars and trucks poses a critical threat to public health, planet and profits. Veloz will spark a virtuous cycle of desire, demand, more makes, models and charging stations to make electric for all a reality," the group's website states.