Gov. Brown signs bill to encourage eco-friendly vehicles

SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown signed several new bills into law Sunday designed to save you time and money. All you have to do is buy an electric vehicle.

The goal of the new laws is to get one million zero-emission or near zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2023 in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions. California makes up 40 percent of the nation's electric vehicle sales.

"It's a great way to clean up our air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without using taxpayer dollars," Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) said.

Muratsuchi authored two of the news bills. AB 2013 raises the cap on the green sticker program from 55,000 to 70,000 new cars. That means new electric vehicles get access to carpool lanes, even when the driver is alone. And AB 2565 makes it easier to install charging stations on private commercial and residential properties.

"That's an important part of our fight against climate change in that we need more infrastructure, more charging stations, in order to support the increase in demand for electric vehicles," Muratsuchi said. "This is clearly a win-win for consumers, for the auto industry and for the environment."

"We think here at Honda that not only are consumers looking to reduce carbon footprint with what they drive, but they're also looking to save time and money," Angie Nucci of Honda Motor Co. said. "Just that access to the carpool lanes, if it's just one person driving, is so helpful during that L.A. rush hour."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.