Rep. Don Davis expressed concerns about the Biden administration’s regulations on gas cars, arguing that the government should not determine the winners and losers in the industry.
He believes consumers should guide the transition and that moving too fast could undermine practical considerations like current infrastructure limitations.
“I am concerned, and I would say that we shouldn’t go too far, too fast. And I would only imagine putting the trust in Washington, D.C. to ultimately determine the winners and losers. I have great concerns here,” Davis said.
While supporting environmental goals, Davis said the timing of policies needs input from both industry and consumers to balance theory with real-world feasibility on the ground.
He added, “I believe it’s important to continue to follow the consumers. Consumers will tell you a whole lot. … So, this is not entirely about going against a goal, but this is just bringing forth pragmatic processes in order for the industry to continue to move forward, and I believe that we just have to not move too quickly here.”
“[O]f course, there are those who are very supportive and are moving towards EV. However, … there are others who have great concerns, just like I have, and that we’ve already heard, charging stations, we’re just not there on the infrastructure,” he said.
Davis noted that some of Biden’s plans “have some merit. Again, where I would come to and point the direction towards is the timing and really bringing the industry and even consumers, to some extent, into this process more.”
He said there’s “concern about the environment, and we get that. But, again, I come, also, from an academic background, and, sometimes, we can talk all day about theory, but theory may not always align with what’s practical and what’s taking place on the ground.”
