(The Center Square) – A non-profit organization that advocates for American energy workers supports governors who are urging President Joe Biden to remove his federal electric vehicle mandate
“These governors are telling the truth Joe Biden doesn’t want to hear, EVs are expensive, unwanted, and shouldn’t be forced upon unwilling consumers,” said Daniel Turner, founder and executive director for Power the Future. “I applaud these governors for standing up for working families and urge more leaders to join them.”
In a letter to the White House Jan. 22, 16 governors told Biden to remove the mandate.
Writing on behalf of American consumers, the governors said the mandate requiring two out of every three vehicles to be battery-powered by 2032 is unrealistic for the country’s domestic marketplace and harmful to American customers.
“While we are not opposed to the electric vehicle marketplace, we do have concerns with federal government mandates that penalize retailers and do not reflect the will of the consumer,” the governors said in the letter. “Even with deep price cuts, manufacturers’ incentives, and generous government funding, federal mandates on electric vehicles are unrealistic. The American customer should be able to decide what technology makes most sense for them, not the federal government.”
Thousands of auto dealers across the country also told the Biden administration that consumers are not choosing electric vehicles and should not be denied another option. A clear majority – 59% – of U.S. adults oppose phasing out the production of new gasoline vehicles by 2035, according to a 2023 report from Pew Research Center.
Consumer demand aside, the governors’ letter argued the U.S. currently lacks the grid capacity, charging stations, and domestic production necessary to support battery operated vehicles on a large scale. China controls 70% of electric vehicle battery production, according to a 2022 Congressional Research Service report cited in the letter.
“Even if consumers determine over time that battery electric vehicles are appealing, the reality is that the lack of a strong, domestic marketplace makes electric vehicles prohibitively expensive for the American consumer,” the letter said. “While battery electric vehicles are a promising technology, we believe it will take time to develop the marketplace, to address consumer access and concerns, and to build out the necessary infrastructure.”
American consumers, rather than the federal government, should determine the growth of the electric vehicle industry, the letter said.
“The American customer should be able to decide what technology makes most sense for them, not the federal government.”,,,,,not in Joe Biden’s version of democracy. They really SHOULD force the democrats to rename their party to reflect the controlling Socialists that they are!
FYI, another dirty little secret Joe forget to tell you about those electric vehicles that all went dead up North and would not recharge in the subzero months of December and January,,,, those same $1500-$2000 tires on gas run vehicles that last between 30,000 and 50,000 miles, wear out in 1500-2000 miles when mounted on electric vehicles. Follow the Biden family laundered money back to China who has a monopoly on rare earth metals required for these car batteries that Joe and his family got paid their more than 10% in foreign kickbacks, and you now begin to understand the total depth of the treason and betrayal of American wealth and prosperity, of the Socialists disguised as American Democrats who also disguise their corruption as good intentioned care of the environment. Those electric grids are powered by petroleum or coal products for a net zero gain for WE THE PEOPLE’s environment, but a big score in redistributed American wealth for Joe and the democrats who finance their elections and media with other taxpayer people’s money.
IF anything they need a forced name change to what they are.. COMMUCRATS!
A few days ago I red an article about an electric bus that caught fire at the depot and burned a couple of other gasoline versions as well.
Not cost effective.
And how about all those electric cars unable to charge during frigid weather? But then how often does it get cold in Buffalo?
Don’t forget the electric BUS in London that caught fire last week…
I 100% agree with this article. Let the consumer decide what to buy. And when and where. And three supporting items.
1. EVs are NOT environmentally friendly. 70 – 80% (depends on your reference) of electricity produced in the US comes from fossil fuels – coal, oil, natural gas.
2. Some (many?) Tesla charging stations derive their electricity from diesel powered generators. That’s NOT the environmental answer.
3. Every year (in all the studies I’ve read) JDPower ranks the Tesla at or near the bottom in initial vehicle quality. In 2023 Tesla was fifth from the bottom with 242 reported problems per 100 vehicles. Who wants to buy that?
There are of course many others negative aspects here. So let the consumer decide. That would force EV makers to sharpen their tools and produce better quality vehicles (looking at you Tesla).