The electric car market just got supercharged, and Utah will feel the jolt [Video]

This story is part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing commitment to identify solutions to Utah’s biggest challenges through the work of the Innovation Lab.

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Two developments this month are poised to power Utahns into electric vehicles in the coming years.

Congressional passage of the Inflation Reduction Act makes millions of dollars in tax incentives available for Utah drivers and businesses to knock down the price of new and used electric cars, heavy trucks and charging stations.

And California’s announcement last week that it will ban new gas-powered vehicles after 2035 likely will speed the conversion in the rest of the country. This is because California is the largest car market in the nation and has consistently driven carmakers’ priorities. Other states, including Oregon and New York, are expected to announce similar mandates.

Rep. Steve Handy, R-Layton, who has been championing cleaner transportation on Capitol Hill for years as …