Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 17 and delivery center at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville. Tesla has been trying for several years to make inroads in Connecticut, but has faced stiff opposition from auto dealers. State law forbids motor vehicle manufacturers from selling their products directly to customers, which is the business model Tesla relies on. By opening a sales center on tribal land, Tesla has found a way to side- step state law. The sales and delivery center will allow people to purchase and pick up electric vehicles, and learn more about Tesla's solar and storage offerings. Tesla currently has a showroom in Milford, but it can't sell cars from that location. Quelling range anxiety For consumers, adding to local electric vehicle infrastructure and quelling range anxiety are important AUTO MANUFACTURERS COMMIT TO AN ELECTRIFIED FUTURE Many vehicle manufacturers have already announced plans to elec- trify the vehicles they offer for sale amid increasing consumer demand and emerging regulatory requirements. Here are some examples: • FORD is planning for half of all vehicles it sells to be electric by 2030, and by the end of 2023, it wants to produce 600,000 EVs per year. • GENERAL MOTORS committed to selling only zero-emission cars and trucks by 2035. • HONDA aims to make its entire lineup zero-emissions in major markets by 2040. The company wants to offer 30 EV models by 2030, and produce more than 2 million EVs a year. • HYUNDAI plans to sell 1.9 million battery EVs annually by 2030, and will introduce 17 new EV models by then. • NISSAN wants EVs to make up at least 75% of its sales in Europe, 55% in Japan, and 40% in China by fiscal year 2026. By fiscal year 2030, it wants 40% of its U.S. sales to be EVs. • TOYOTA expects its sales of all-electric vehicles to reach 3.5 million by 2030, and will introduce 30 EV models by that time. Source: Office of Gov. Ned Lamont Building Ideas That Work... Building Ideas That Work... Contact us at 860.482.7613 or visit us at BorghesiBuilding.com 2155 East Main Street Torrington, Connecticut 06790 © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing ™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. When looking to construct a new place of worship, Borghesi Building & Engineering Co., Inc. will guide you in defining your project using a balance of goals, budget and timeline. Providing quality and reliability with design and energy efficient construction. With over 80 years of experience our processes will help your dream to be realized. JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, WEST HARTFORD GRACE CHURCH, NEWTOWN SIKH TEMPLE, SOUTHINGTON factors in easing the path toward a non-combustion engine future, experts said. "A robust charging infrastructure system is going to be a key to helping folks make that transition," Harris said. Affordability is still a major hurdle for many car buyers, even though electric vehicle prices have come down in recent years, Aiosa said. In August, Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford) and House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) said stringent electric vehicle standards will make Connecticut less affordable for low- and middle-income residents. But as prices continue to drop, infrastructure gets better, and battery life improves, more consumers could be drawn to the technology, Aiosa and Hoffman said. "Over time, the reticence of the range and of the convenience of public charging infrastructure will be enhanced, and I think that will drive behavior of car buyers," Aiosa said. Aiosa, who has been driving a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle for seven years, praised the technology going into EVs. In the past, he's compared going from combustion to electric as upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone. Still, he said the path toward full electrification is dependent on consumers. "Whether or not the aspirational termination of combustion by 2035 at the federal level happens, that's more I think up to the market and less about what dealers, manufac- turers or even regulators are doing," Aiosa said. The inside of an electric Mercedes-Benz car. HBJ PHOTO | BILL MORGAN

• Cover