I think it’s best that we start with the thing that’s causing Republican frustration over the Biden administration’s policies promoting electric vehicles, and that’s an April proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would set the strongest emission standards for new vehicles in the agency’s history, with the hope of slowing global climate change.
At a speaking event in Washington, EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the new standards, which would take effect in 2027, saying the federal government isn’t requiring automakers to adopt electric vehicles but indicating that is one preferred path. With large investments and additional incentives in place, Regan said of the historically tough standards, “I believe we can (achieve that level of electric vehicle sales) and I believe that because we’re following the market trends.” “This is the future,” he said. (source)
Of course, oil companies are vehemently opposed to such a program and Republicans in Congress have complained in the past that Biden and the environmental community are trying to force the public to embrace more expensive electric vehicles against their will.
On the House floor December 2023, Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., says “the proposed rule is an electric vehicle mandate… not only does this EV mandate display breathtaking government overreach into the auto industry, but it’s also unaffordable, unattainable and unrealistic for American consumers.”
Turns out, the EPA’s proposal doesn’t specify how automakers should reach the new requirements, which tell them to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions across their fleets or pay penalties for breaking the rules. But regulators estimate automakers will use electric vehicles to do so — in part because the industry was already investing heavily in these vehicles. Given these investments, industry analysts expect a rapid rise from current EV sales numbers. Goldman Sachs estimated earlier this year that EV sales would make up around 50% of all new car sales by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
So, what’s the reality in the US?
Of course, car companies are going to continue building gas-powered cars in the years to come, as a majority of consumers remain skeptical of EVs and because bigger SUVs and trucks remain their major source of profits! That said, the development of new materials used in battery production, and the introduction of new battery designs and effective battery recycling operations continue at a rapid pace. Also, powertrain units and thermal management will become more efficient, reducing power consumption, and engineers continue to find ways to reduce the weight, while improving safety, of electric cars.
Consider these factors in addition to a number of EV manufacturers working hard on developing ‘affordable’ EVs and build-out of the EV charging infrastructure thanks in part to the Biden administration’s ‘National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure’ Program (NEVI), and I expect we’ll see a very significant up-tick in EV relative to ICE sales over the next decade.
All-electric IS the future. There’s much to be done to make this a reality as convenient and cost effective as it is today for ICE cars. Still, we MUST start moving in this direction. And I think (I know) the EPA’s blue-print is sound and putting up roadblocks to progress in this regard is short-sighted and counterproductive.