Legal, regulatory and policy challenges abound as federal, state and local governments and the private sector pursue a transition to electric vehicles (EV). Among these challenges are ensuring adequate production capabilities to supply the power grid with electricity; establishing a functional nationwide infrastructure for vehicle charging; creating the proper consumer-demand incentives to drive the transition; and ensuring a reliable and secure supply chain for the necessary battery technology.
McGuireWoods and governmental affairs affiliate McGuireWoods Consulting (MWC) partner with automakers, energy utilities, industry suppliers and service providers, project developers, fleet customers and other stakeholders to navigate these legal, regulatory and policy developments, and we add significant value in the process. We leverage our connections with members of Congress, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), statehouses, public utility commissions and many local governments. We practice in energy law and policy and can help identify trends, navigate political challenges and work with regional transmission organizations (RTO) and independent system operators (ISO), FERC, DOE, Congress, state public utility commissions, and local government to move the industry forward.
Our lawyers and consultants represent clients in proceedings before FERC and state public utility commissions. For clients seeking to transition to EV, we assist with government relations, partnership structuring, tax advice, consumer-facing marketing and deployment and policy planning.
Key Services
As the EV industry continues to grow and develop, McGuireWoods and MWC help clients maximize their positions in the marketplace:
- Fleet Transitions and Implementation of New Technology (V2G, etc.): We represent stakeholders in their transition to an electric fleet and in creative structures involving the newest technologies, including V2G.
- Supply Chain Issues: We provide legal advice on supply-chain matters, which implicate some legal, regulatory and policy questions, as well as more traditional contractual issues.
- Partnerships and Joint Ventures: We help clients establish and grow partnerships with other stakeholders, including utilities, cities and states and automakers.
- Government Subsidies and Tax Incentives: We partner with clients to take advantage of federal and state subsidies and tax incentives to promote the development of EV charging infrastructure.
- Regulation of Charging Stations: We guide clients through the construction and maintenance of charging stations that are subject to regulations at the federal, state and local levels. This includes advising clients about rules and regulations at the state and federal levels regarding the sale, purchase and integration of electric power by EVs and charging stations to the grid. We also represent clients before FERC, public utility commissions and RTOs.
- Advocacy Through MWC: We advocate for clients’ interests before Congress, DOE, statehouses and many local governments.
- Legal Representation Before State and Federal Agencies: We represent clients before FERC and state public utility commissions on rulemakings, tariff filings and ratemaking issues.
- Comments and Litigation in Federal Rulemakings: We submit formal comments through the federal rulemaking process and, where appropriate, provide representation in challenging federal regulations (in whole or in part) under the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Product Liability Litigation and Counseling: We defend automotive manufacturers at trial and on appeal in state and federal courts across the country in products liability cases involving electric vehicles, as well as provide product liability counseling on a range of automotive components and defect theories.
