The market for electric vehicle sales in Pennsylvania expands under legislation approved Monday by a House committee.

The Commerce Committee voted 14-12 along party lines for House Bill 2013 sponsored by Rep. Gregg Scott, D-Montgomery. HB2013 enables other EV manufacturers besides Tesla to sell vehicles directly to customers.

Democrats supported the bill while Republicans opposed it.

HB2013 removes a restriction in a 2014 state law requiring a manufacturer to have been in business the previous 12 months to sell directly.

Tesla is the only EV manufacturer to fit that description.

The market has changed in a decade and other EV manufacturers are not allowed to do business here, said Scott.

“These EV manufacturers are being squeezed out of the market and Pennsylvania consumers are the ones that suffer because of lack of competition,” said Scott in a memo.

He told lawmakers that HB2013 fosters fairness, competition and consumer choice.

The committee defeated a motion by GOP lawmakers to refer HB2013 to the House Professional Licensure Committee.

Committee Majority Chair Scott Conklin, D-Centre, said the bill won’t harm franchise car dealers.

Committee Minority Chair John Lawrence, R-Chester, said the bill needs more work to clarify that it doesn’t allow legacy car manufacturers to sell directly to consumers.