WASHINGTON, D.C – Following President-elect Donald Trump’s landslide victory over challenger Vice President Kamala Harris, the nation’s adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), which was greatly encouraged by the current Biden Administration via numerous initiatives, could experience a significant impact – perhaps both positive and negative – when the Republican victor is sworn into office in January.
Republicans – including Trump – have criticized Biden’s emphasis on rapid EV adoption, alleging that Democratic-led initiatives are essentially “forcing” the vehicles upon the public, with some critics saying that both EV range and the charging infrastructure are still not where they are needed to support widespread use, despite some of the environmental benefits they offer.
Trump has vowed, upon taking office, that he will roll back numerous policies and orders implemented by Biden in regards to EVs and internal combustion engine-based vehicles, such as aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 – which included tax credits and subsidies to encourage EV purchases – and the Environmental Protection Agency’s more stringent emissions standards governing gas-powered cars and trucks.
Trump is expected to more target parts of the IRA that offer up to $7,500 to consumers to purchase EVs, while allowing industrial production credits for companies manufacturing EVs – many of which are located in red states – to remain intact.
The incoming president is also expected to battle with states – such as California and New York – that have imposed their own vehicle emissions standards and EV sales mandates.
In contrast, experts believe that long-time American automakers such as General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler parent Stellantis will benefit from the incoming Trump Administration, which would likely free them of Biden’s orders to decarbonize and shift production from ICE vehicles solely to EVs. Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota, which has been slow to adopt EV production and has shown a willingness to instead invest in hybrid-based technologies, could also benefit from a Trump regime.
However, Trump has stated numerous times that he is not opposed to EVs, but merely the idea of “forcing” them upon consumers. In fact, Tesla CEO Elon Musk – who is said to be tapped to become a government efficiency czar in the upcoming admin – has been one of Trump’s closest campaigners and advisors in recent months, and likely will have a large impact on EV policies going forward.
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.