Former United States President Donald Trumpis turning against the increasingly popular electric car.
Trump has expressed his negative view of electric cars in the past. In fact, he has called on oil and gas industry executives to donate significant funds to his election campaign and, in return, has pledged to reverse the Biden administration's policies on the issue. If elected in November, Donald Trump would change emissions targets and dramatically reduce tax credits for electric cars.
However, these changes may not be well-received, even among Republican voters, as electric vehicle has spurred new job growth and investment in southern states.
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The automotive landscape is very different than it was in 2016 when Trump took office . The EV market has grown significantly in recent years. In 2016, just 159,139 electric vehicles were sold in the US, while by 2024, more than 1.5 million are expected to be sold (or 10% of new car sales in the US).
Even if Donald Trump is re-elected, it's hard to believe the electric car market will take a step back. Analysts predict that widespread EV adoption will continue to grow regardless of actions such as tax cuts. If Trump moves forward with such measures, there may be a slight slowdown in the pace of purchases, but sales will not stop.
William Clay Ford Jr, executive chairman of Ford Motor, told the New York Times: “Our timeline as a company, our planning timeframe is much longer than election cycles… When politicians go back and forth, things get very difficult for us.”
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It is expected that investment in domestic manufacturing of electric cars and related components, pushed by the Biden administration, will continue even if Donald Trump is re-elected. Hyundai, for example, is investing $13 billion in electric vehicle production in Georgia. By threatening the livelihoods of American workers, Trump may do more harm than good if he tries to ban the production and sale of EVs.
With billions in investment from automakers, charging companies, dealer networks and advertising, it will be difficult for Trump to “hit” the electric vehicle market. Republican strongholds, Texas and Florida, are increasingly adopting electric vehicles as a mode of transportation. Electric cars appear to be equally popular among Republican and Democratic consumers.
At the same time, automakers have committed to producing more electric vehicles and reducing their carbon footprint. With countries around the world setting ambitious goals to reduce emissions, it is vital for the US to continue to promote and incentivize the adoption of electric cars.
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Donald Trump’s opposition to electric cars has sparked debate and raised concerns about the future of clean transportation in the US. Governments must take action to combat climate change. The development and adoption of electric cars play a critical role in achieving a sustainable future , and it is up to us to continue to push for their development and advancement. So instead of stalling sales, their production should be boosted and technology so they can be used more widely.
Source: gizmodo.com
