President Biden issued a new EPA regulation requiring that 56% of new cars sold in the U.S. by 2030 be electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
While EV sales grew last year, they still represent a small fraction of the market.
“Three years ago, I set an ambitious target: that half of all new cars and trucks sold in 2030 would be zero-emission,” Biden said. “Together, we’ve made historic progress. Hundreds of new expanded factories across the country. Hundreds of billions in private investment and thousands of good-paying union jobs. And we’ll meet my goal for 2030 and race forward in the years ahead.”
The move is part of Biden’s ambitious climate agenda but faces skepticism from consumers and the auto industry.
Surveys find EVs have more reported problems than gas cars related to charging times, battery issues, and lack of infrastructure.
Car dealers say EVs are piling up unsold due to low demand.
“With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this attempted electric vehicle mandate is unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand,” the car dealers wrote.
“Already, electric vehicles are stacking up on our lots which is our best indicator of customer demand in the marketplace.”
Auto workers fear the shift could eliminate many jobs as EVs require less labor and China dominates battery materials.
“I think EVs are going to wipe us out,” said Whitney Walch, employee at Stellantis’ Portland Parts Distribution Center. “[EVs] don’t need spark plugs, what else, oil filters, we sell a lot of those. If we don’t have all those parts, I feel like we don’t have a lot to do.”
During a strike, many expressed concern that EVs will render skills like repairing spark plugs obsolete.
The UAW president endorsed Biden despite most auto workers reportedly preferring Trump, who opposes the EV mandates and argues they threaten domestic manufacturing jobs.
“Joe Biden has backed every single blood-sucking globalist attack on U.S. auto workers,” Trump said.
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