Biden's EV policy a tough sell

 Red State:

Joe Biden is starting to ride back his committments on forcing the transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

According to a report from The New York Times, Biden's administration is giving up on its targets for production of EVs in an apparent "concession" to automakers and labor unions.

The plan is also said to be an election ploy as Democrats fear losing the support of automakers and labor unions:

Instead of essentially requiring automakers to rapidly ramp up sales of electric vehicles over the next few years, the administration would give car manufacturers more time, with a sharp increase in sales not required until after 2030, these people said. They asked to remain anonymous because the regulation has not been finalized. The administration plans to publish the final rule by early spring.

The change comes as President Biden faces intense crosswinds as he runs for re-election while trying to confront climate change. He is aiming to cut carbon dioxide emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles, which make up the largest single source of greenhouse gases emitted by the United States.

At the same time, Mr. Biden needs cooperation from the auto industry and political support from the unionized auto workers who backed him in 2020 but now worry that an abrupt transition to electric vehicles would cost jobs.

The Times notes that Biden's concession comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a series of ludicrous targets for the EV market, which included a requirement that they must account for two-thirds of car sales by the year 2032....

...

The fact is that the current production of EVs is greater than the market for them.  The EVs are expensive and are less convenient than fossil fuel vehicles.  There is also inadequate infrastructure to fuel and service EVs.  As I have noted before the closest EV "fueling" location to where I live is a 60-mile round trip.

See also:

Biden Administration Is Said to Slow Early Stage of Shift to Electric Cars

The change to planned rules was an election-year concession to labor unions and auto executives, according to people familiar with the plan.


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