California’s new utopian dream of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-regulators-approve-banning-new-gas-car-sales">banning new, gas-powered cars</a> is symptomatic of a brand of progressive politics that is good for messianic rhetoric but dreadful for the lives and pocketbooks of everyday citizens. Progressives are oratorically concerned about income inequality, yet they aggressively implement policies whose consequences make it far worse. 
Last week, the state of California continued its needless but never-ending war against working-class citizens.
Keep in mind: California <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/states-with-the-highest-gas-prices">has already seen</a> the highest or second highest gas prices in the entire country, depending on the week. California has already experienced a <a href="https://therealdeal.com/la/2022/07/20/analysis-report-puts-california-housing-shortage-in-national-perspective/">severe housing shortage</a> and is currently building <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/13/these-are-americas-10-most-expensive-states-to-live-in.html">110,000 fewer housing units</a> than what is needed to keep up with demand (and has continued to prodigiously do so for 30 years). California has already undergone energy shortages — officials last May candidly revealed they had doubts that the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-says-it-needs-more-power-keep-lights-2022-05-06/">state’s electric grid had the capacity</a> to keep the lights on during the summer months. California is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-drought-reaches-record-levels">already in the clutches</a> of a cataclysmic, Biblical-level drought. And, finally, California already has <a href="https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-04-15/taxes-too-high-lot-of-californians-think-so">sky-high taxes</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/environmental-policies-are-leaving-california-farmers-in-the-dust">byzantine regulatory practices</a>, and is generally considered to be one of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/should-raise-alarm-bells-across-the-country-california-paves-road-to-40-minimum-wage-increases-for-certain-restaurants">most hostile business climates</a> in the country. 
But don’t worry. California is trying its best to make things even worse for working-class citizens under the auspices of fighting climate change by stealthily enlisting 39 million citizens as obedient eco-warriors. Last week, California released a timetable for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-expected-to-ban-sale-of-new-gas-cars">banning new gas-powered cars</a> — that are, to use the sanctimonious parlance of the Left, deeply “problematic” — by 2036.
Though, if you read the fine print, you’ll see that the bureaucratic zaniness quickly jumps off the regulatory page. If car manufacturers want access to the California auto market, then in just four years’ time 35% of cars and light trucks will have to be electric. Sounds great until one realizes that <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/05/10/as-statewide-zev-sales-exceed-16-percent-of-all-new-vehicles-california-zev-program-surpasses-250000-point-of-sale-incentives/">only 16%</a> of the California car market today is populated with electric vehicles; thus, to meet this hefty goal, California would have to experience a meteoric 119% increase in electric vehicle demand in just four years.
Keep in mind that the <a href="https://electrek.co/2022/07/25/average-electric-car-price-hit-66000-us-whole-story/">average electric vehicle</a> now sells for roughly $66,000, an increase, by the way, of 13% from just a year ago — not exactly an affordable option for working-class families, even with the 1.8 billion in <a href="https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/08/california-electric-cars-rebates/">California rebates and incentives</a>. Add in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-inflation-bill-made-7500-electric-vehicle-tax-credits-ford-and-gm-just-raised-their-prices-by-the-same-amount">$7,500 tax credit</a> from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, and there is a good chance electric cars will continue to be out of reach for middle-income California families. As Joel Kotkin in National Review <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/05/green-rope-a-dope-china-watches-as-america-greens/">has rightly observed</a>, “Like many other current green policies, the shift to electric cars will also threaten the living standards of working- and middle-class households. As the prices of rare metals and computer chips surge, the prices of EVs have grown.”
But even if Californians were to empty their pocketbooks with a righteous sense of environmental euphoria and suddenly flock to electric vehicles, there are pesky laws of economics, scarcity, and infrastructure development that stand in the way. California’s plan has been labeled <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/26/climate/california-electric-gasoline-car-ban-enforcement.html">“audacious”</a> by The New York Times. The word “foolhardy,” or even “hubris,” is more appropriate. 
To find out why, ask some very basic questions:
<h3>Where are these millions of electric cars going to be charged?</h3>
If eight million new electric vehicles are going to be on the road by 2030, then almost 1.2 million new charging stations will need to be installed and functional in less than half a decade, a <a href="https://www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2020/assembly-bill-2127-electric-vehicle-charging-infrastructure-assessment-analyzing">state report</a> found. How many charging stations currently meet these criteria today? <a href="https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/04/california-electric-cars-rule-zero-emissions/">A mere 70,000</a>. And the ones that do exist often do not work. According to research firm <a href="https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-electric-vehicle-experience-evx-public-charging-study">J.D. Power</a>, one of the primary reasons consumers currently eschew electric vehicles is the lack of availability and reliability of current charging stations. And what about people who park on the street? Do we ask them to sell their cars and get on the city bus forever?
<h3>Where are the minerals and materials to make these millions of new electric engines going to come from?</h3>
One of the chief components of EV batteries is lithium. China <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/china-lithium-mining-production/#:~:text=China%20controls%20at%20least%20two,market%20for%20years%20to%20come.">controls</a> at least two-thirds of the world’s capacity for refining lithium, and it <a href="https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/batteries-with-chinese-characteristics/">produces</a> 75% of all lithium-ion batteries. If the aim is to recalibrate the American economy from a historic dependence on Middle Eastern OPEC oil to Chinese-made lithium batteries instead, California is certainly doing its part. Consider that over <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/06/adam-smith-and-evs-going-in-different-directions/">98% of permanent magnets</a> come from China. While the Golden State’s earnest hope is for automobile companies to develop economies of scale in the mass production of electric cars and light trucks, thus bringing down costs and boosting affordability, the more likely scenario is that skyrocketing prices of rare earth metals will make them even more of an extravagance. Prices of lithium carbonate have risen almost tenfold this year, and cobalt is <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/06/adam-smith-and-evs-going-in-different-directions/">up 150%</a>.
Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions certainly play a role in this bonanza of environmental largesse. And for what it is worth, Newsom seems to gleefully play the role of a Green New Deal cowboy, happily herding millions of progressive Californians into his laboratory of public policy experimentation. And why wouldn’t he? California voters rarely seem to balk at the scope and cost of his ambitions, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-california-gov-newsom-projected-to-beat-recall-attempt-in-landslide">overwhelmingly rejecting</a> the attempt to recall him last fall, despite the absolute senselessness of his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-students-scores-suffered-during-covid-lockdowns-but-newsom-accepts-an-award-for-education">sprawling and harmful</a> COVID policies. He is certain to win re-election by a large margin in just a few months.
However, Newsom would be wise to remember that while voters outside of the Golden State don’t mind being nudged — conservatives like solar panels and clean air as much as West Coast cosmopolitans — they don’t particularly appreciate being hastily shoved in a direction they cannot afford. Public policy by executive fiat that is rooted in ideological utopianism, unmoored from the laws of economics and prudence, might make for great rhetoric. 
Mr. Newsom will surely claim to be saving humanity and Mother Earth with his Green policies. But it is also making Californians leave their state in droves. Nothing is more of an indictment of one’s tenure as a governor than the fact that no one wants to live in the state he has had free-reign to govern. “I’ll do for America what I did for California.”
No thanks. No one can afford it.
Jeremy S. Adams is the author of the recently-released Amazon best-selling book Hollowed Out: A Warning About America&#8217;s Next Generation. He has taught American civics for 24 years in Bakersfield, California and was the 2014 California Teacher of the Year (DAR). You can follow him on Twitter @JeremyAdams6.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Market St, San Francisco

California’s Never-Ending War On The Working Class

California

Electric cars

Energy

Gas Prices

Gavin Newsom

Readers Pass

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/washington">Washington</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/massachusetts">Massachusetts</a> are following a policy from <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/california">California</a> to ban the sale of new <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/oil-and-gas">gasoline</a>-powered cars by 2035.
Rules from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) require 35% of new vehicles to produce zero emissions by 2026 before rising to a 68% benchmark by 2030 and a 100% level by 2035. Both Washington and Massachusetts had enacted legislation conforming the states to recommendations from CARB as of 2019, <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/177-states.pdf">according</a> to the agency.
“This is a critical milestone in our climate fight,” Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovInslee/status/1562512247616045056?s=20&amp;t=rYvGc0n3cesUmRWNpvpKQQ">said</a> on social media, setting the goal of “all new car sales to be zero emissions by 2030.”
California accounts for 11.7% of new light-duty vehicle sales in the United States, according to CARB, while Massachusetts and Washington account for 2.1% and 1.8% of sales, respectively. The road to electric vehicle adoption, however, may be steep — California has 563,070 registered electric vehicles while Washington and Massachusetts have 66,810 and 30,470, respectively, according to the <a href="https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10962">Department of Energy</a>.
Officials in the Biden administration have come under fire for suggesting that renewable energy subsidies passed under the Inflation Reduction Act will help the middle class contend with higher price levels, particularly with respect to fuel.
“If you are low income, you can get your home entirely weatherized through the expansion from the bipartisan infrastructure laws,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-dont-know-how-they-sound-critics-roast-energy-secretary-for-telling-poor-people-to-buy-solar-panels">said</a> earlier this month on Fox News. “If you are moderate income, today you can get 30% off the price of solar panels. Those solar panels can be financed, so you don’t have to have the big outlay at the front … If you don’t qualify for the weatherization program, you will be able to, starting next year, get rebates on the appliances and equipment that will help you reduce your monthly energy bill by up to 30%. That is all about reducing costs for people.”
Beyond state governments, corporations around the world are seeking to accelerate a shift toward electric vehicles. Bank Australia, for example, will no longer offer loans for new gas-powered cars and plans to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/australian-bank-to-end-loans-for-new-gas-cars-pushes-electric-vehicles-instead">implement</a> the policy beginning in the next three years as part of its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035.
“By ceasing car loans for new fossil fuel vehicles, we are sending a signal to the Australian market about the rapid acceleration in the transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles we expect to see in the next few years,” Bank Australia Chief Impact Officer Sasha Courville said at a recent summit, according to a press release. “We’ve chosen 2025 because the change to electric vehicles needs to happen quickly, and we believe it can with the right supporting policies in place to bring a greater range of more affordable electric vehicles to Australia.”
Texas, however, recently cut ties with BlackRock, UBS, and eight other financial institutions <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-cuts-ties-with-blackrock-other-woke-firms-over-their-hatred-for-fossil-fuels">hostile</a> to fossil fuel investment. Comptroller Glenn Hegar identified firms that are “refusing to deal with” or “terminating business activities” with companies involved in the production and use of fossil fuels “without an ordinary business purpose” based upon an evaluation of their commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives — which, in some cases, included vows to third-party climate advocacy groups like Net Zero Banking Alliance.

Gasoline

Two More States Follow California’s Ban On New Gas Cars

Washington And Massachusetts Follow California's Bid To Ban New Gas Cars

Massachusetts

Oil and Gas

Washington

Bank <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> will no longer offer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/banks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">loans</a> for new gas-powered cars and is encouraging customers to buy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/electric-cars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">electric vehicles</a>, the company announced on Friday.
The customer-owned bank, which has roughly $5 billion in assets under management, will implement the policy beginning in 2025 as part of its commitment to achieving net zero <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carbon</a> emissions by 2035.
“By ceasing car loans for new fossil fuel vehicles, we are sending a signal to the Australian market about the rapid acceleration in the transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles we expect to see in the next few years,” Bank Australia Chief Impact Officer Sasha Courville said at a recent summit, according to a <a href="https://bankaust.com.au/blog/bank-australia-to-cease-loans-for-new-fossil-fuel-cars-from-2025">press release</a>. “We’ve chosen 2025 because the change to electric vehicles needs to happen quickly, and we believe it can with the right supporting policies in place to bring a greater range of more affordable electric vehicles to Australia.”
Noting that many consumers are not yet able to afford an electric car, Courville specified that Bank Australia would “continue to offer loans for second hand fossil fuel vehicles until there is a viable and thriving market for electric vehicles.”
Roughly 7% of Australia’s total energy consumption came from renewable sources as of 2019 and 2020, according to <a href="https://www.energy.gov.au/data/renewables">data</a> from the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Beyond renewables, oil, coal, and gas respectively account for 37%, 28%, and 27% of energy use. Australian policymakers, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have <a href="https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/media-centre/driving-the-nation-ev-bowen-king">endorsed</a> higher rates of electric vehicle adoption, with the Labor Party vowing earlier this year to construct a national network of charging stations.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and other White House officials have come under fire for suggesting that renewable energy subsidies will help the middle class contend with higher inflation, particularly with respect to fuel prices.
“If you are low income, you can get your home entirely weatherized through the expansion from the bipartisan infrastructure laws,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-dont-know-how-they-sound-critics-roast-energy-secretary-for-telling-poor-people-to-buy-solar-panels">said</a> this weekend on Fox News. “If you are moderate income, today you can get 30% off the price of solar panels. Those solar panels can be financed, so you don’t have to have the big outlay at the front … If you don’t qualify for the weatherization program, you will be able to, starting next year, get rebates on the appliances and equipment that will help you reduce your monthly energy bill by up to 30%. That is all about reducing costs for people.”
Critics noted that a 30% tax credit would leave struggling homeowners liable for 70% of an expense that they are by no means able to afford. A recent analysis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-how-much-inflation-is-costing-you-each-month">found</a> that inflation cost American families an average of $717 in the month of July alone.
Granholm has nevertheless said that the “only way out” of “boom-and-bust cycles” in energy prices is higher renewable energy adoption.
“The real truth is that as long as our nation remains overly reliant on oil and fossil fuels, we will feel these price shocks again,” Granholm <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/energy-secretary-lays-out-the-only-way-to-avoid-high-gas-prices-and-its-not-producing-more-oil?fbclid=IwAR1Cc9CsrYptSBtkmkYmredgSlRdFYFiX554Ytn9VTLPAxFihVOXh2biE5Y">argued</a> earlier this summer. “This is not going to be the last time. The next time there’s a war, the next time there’s a pandemic or another hurricane, these extreme weather events we are experiencing — they will impact the access that we have to fossil fuels.”
The Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed last week, offers $7,500 electric vehicle tax credits. The policy, however, went into effect as automakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-inflation-bill-made-7500-electric-vehicle-tax-credits-ford-and-gm-just-raised-their-prices-by-the-same-amount">hiked their prices</a> by approximately the same amount.
Virginia Kruta contributed to this report.

Electric Vehicle

Australian Bank To End Loans For New Gas Cars, Pushes Electric Vehicles Instead

Australia

Banks

Climate Change

As the Democrats force Americans to go <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/energy">green</a>, automakers are going even greener. Ford and General Motors unveiled price increases for their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/electric-cars">electric vehicle</a> lineups as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/inflation-reduction-act">Inflation Reduction Act</a> — which includes electric vehicle tax credits — is slated to become law.
Citing “significant material cost increases and other factors,” Ford’s <a href="https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2022/08/09/ford-f-150-lightning-standard-range-increased.html">announcement</a> revealed price hikes between $6,000 and $8,500 for its electric vehicles. The F-150 Lightning Pro, for example, will sell for $46,974 — a $7,000 increase from the $39,947 <a href="https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/f150-lightning/">charged</a> for last year’s model. GM likewise <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/17/gm-is-raising-the-price-of-its-hummer-ev-starting-this-weekend.html">increased</a> the cost of its electric Hummer by $6,250 last month.
The price hikes are comparable to the $7,500 tax credits for new electric vehicles included in the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act, which currently awaits President Joe Biden’s signature. The legislation earmarks a total of $369 billion to combat “the existential crisis of climate change,” according to <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/07/statement-by-president-biden-on-senate-passage-of-the-inflation-reduction-act/">remarks</a> from Biden.
“It addresses the climate crisis and strengthens our energy security, creating jobs manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles in America with American workers,” he said. “It lowers families’ energy costs by hundreds of dollars each year.”
The price hikes appear to upend repeated assertions from the White House that electric vehicle tax credits — combined with elevated prices at the pump — will accelerate renewable energy adoption in the United States. “The more pain we are all experiencing from the high price of gas, the more benefit there is for those who can access electric vehicles,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pete-buttigieg-tells-americans-how-they-can-channel-their-pain-at-the-pump">argued</a> before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members last month.
The national average price of gasoline was $2.38 per gallon when Biden assumed office, according to the <a href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&amp;s=EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG&amp;f=W">Energy Information Administration</a>, and increased to $3.53 per gallon by the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prices surpassed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gas-prices">$5.00 per gallon</a> in early June before subsiding to $3.96 per gallon as of Monday, according to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">AAA</a>.
Yet Buttigieg claimed in November that Americans who buy electric vehicles will “never have to worry about gas prices again.”
“The people who stand to benefit most from owning an EV are often rural residents who have the most distances to drive, who burn the most gas, and underserved urban residents in areas where there are higher gas prices and lower income,” Buttigieg said during an MSNBC interview. “They would gain the most by having that vehicle. These are the very residents who have not always been connected to electric vehicles that are viewed as kind of a luxury item.”
A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-inflation-reduction-act-could-slightly-increase-inflation-over-next-two-years-study-finds">study</a> from economists at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School discovered that the Inflation Reduction Act would “very slightly increase inflation” over the next two years and “decrease inflation thereafter,” with both estimates “statistically indistinguishable from zero, thereby indicating low confidence that the legislation will have any impact on inflation” despite its high price tag.
The Inflation Reduction Act will also provide $80 billion to hire 87,000 new Internal Revenue Service employees. In a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/janet-yellen-vows-irs-audits-wont-rise-for-middle-income-americans-but-theres-a-catch">vowed</a> that the funding would help the agency “improve taxpayer service” and “increase equity in the tax system” rather than allow the agency to target middle-income Americans.

President Biden Visits GM ZERO Factory In Detroit

Biden’s Inflation Bill Made $7,500 Electric Vehicle Tax Credits. Ford And GM Just Raised Their Prices By The Same Amount.

Ford And GM Raise Their Electric Vehicle Prices By The Same Amount As Biden's New Tax Credit

Biden Administration

Inflation Reduction Act

Most <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/electric-cars">electric cars</a> won&#8217;t qualify for the tax credits established by the tax and spending plan recently passed by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/democratic-party">Democrats</a> in the Senate.
According to a report from <a href="https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicles-tax-credit-cfd3d9322230446f65d629b05c2ae551">The Associated Press</a> Tuesday, most new electric vehicles (EVs) would not qualify for the $7,500 tax credit for new EVs established in the climate spending provisions of the so-called &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vp-harris-breaks-tie-senate-passes-democrats-inflation-reduction-act-climate-tax-and-spending-bill">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.&#8221; In order to qualify for the credit, new electric cars must have batteries manufactured in North America, with at least 40% of its metals mined or recycled from North America; those rules become much more strict in a few years, making it even harder for new EVs to qualify, experts said.
&#8220;The EV tax credit (aka the Clean Vehicle Credit) in the bill is an effective tool to help reduce the upfront cost of an EV for the millions of Americans in the market for a new car or truck,&#8221; John Bozzella, the president and CEO of automotive industry trade group <a href="https://www.autosinnovate.org/posts/blog/what-if-no-evs-qualify-for-the-ev-tax-credit">Alliance for Automotive Innovation</a> wrote in a blog post Friday, ahead of the Senate vote. &#8220;But… as currently written, the material, component and assembly requirements in the Clean Vehicle Credit will immediately reduce (by a lot) the number of qualifying electric vehicles available to consumers for purchase with the tax credit. Here’s what I mean: there are 72 EV models currently available for purchase in the United States including battery, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles. Seventy percent of those EVs would immediately become ineligible when the bill passes and none would qualify for the full credit when additional sourcing requirements go into effect. Zero.&#8221;
&#8220;The $7500 credit might exist on paper, but no vehicles will qualify for this purchase incentive over the next few years,&#8221; Bozzella added.
Under the &#8220;Inflation Reduction Act,&#8221; in order to qualify for the full $7,500 credit, at least 40% of the component materials used in the battery of an EV must be sourced from North America. By 2027, that threshold increases to 80% of battery materials. If that requirement is not met, the EV would only qualify for half the credit. In addition, a separate rule states that at least 50% of the batteries’ value must be manufactured or assembled in North America; the rule becomes stricter over time, eventually requiring 100% of the battery to be made in North America by 2029.
If the vehicle doesn’t meet these qualifications, the whole tax credit will be lost. Yet another rule requires that the rest of the EV itself must be made in North America in order to qualify for the tax credit. On top of all those requirements, the credit does not apply to electric trucks or SUVs with retail prices above $80,000 or cars above $55,000; the credit is also only available to individuals who make less than $150,000 per year or families who make less than $300,000 per year.
Another provision in the bill prohibits any vehicle from qualifying for the credit if it has battery materials sourced from China by the year 2024.
In his blog post, Bozzella recommended a gradual process of implementing the assembly restrictions to &#8220;better reflect current geopolitical, sourcing and mineral extraction realities,&#8221; in order to keep the credit viable while building up the critical mineral supply chain, including broadening the list of countries to source critical minerals from.

Ford EV

Most Electric Vehicles Won’t Qualify For ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ Tax Credits, None Will Qualify In A Few Years

Most Electric Vehicles Won't Qualify For 'Inflation Reduction Act' Tax Credits, None Will Qualify In A Few Years

Associated Press

Cars

Inflation

Taxes

<hr />
Transportation Secretary <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a> told Congress Tuesday that Americans could reduce the burden of high <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/gas-prices">gas prices</a> by buying <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/electric-cars">electric vehicles</a>.
The comments before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee occurred as members of the Biden administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-takes-victory-lap-as-gas-prices-inch-downward-still-nearly-twice-as-high-since-his-first-day">took a victory lap</a> over a marginal decline in gas prices. Not mentioning the fact that prices at the pump are now 89% higher than at the beginning of his term, Biden argued on Tuesday that his “actions are working” and “prices are coming down.”
Meanwhile, Buttigieg told lawmakers high fuel prices will lead more Americans to rely on alternatives.
&#8220;The more pain we are all experiencing from the high price of gas, the more benefit there is for those who can access electric vehicle,&#8221; Buttigieg said, according to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/pete-buttigieg-blasted-touting-benefit-electric-vehicle-owners-pain-high-gas-prices">Fox Business</a>.
&#8220;So you’re saying the more pain we have, the more benefit we’re gonna get?&#8221; Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) responded. &#8220;I think that’s what I heard you say.&#8221;
&#8220;Of course — no, no, that’s what you heard me say,” Buttigieg replied. “I know you want me to say it’s so bad but honestly, sir, what we’re saying is we could have no pain at all by making EVs cheaper for everyone.&#8221;
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) told Buttigieg that charging electric vehicles would require several times more energy than running the typical household’s air conditioning — a reality that complicates the Biden administration’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/13/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-electric-vehicle-charging-action-plan/#:~:text=President%20Biden%20has%20united%20automakers,in%20the%20U.S.%20by%202030.">goal</a> of 50% electric vehicle adoption by 2030. Nevertheless, Buttigieg and his colleagues have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buttigieg-electric-cars-will-make-it-so-americans-never-have-to-worry-about-gas-prices-again">argued</a> repeatedly that higher use of clean energy is a silver lining to rising energy prices.
“The people who stand to benefit most from owning an EV are often rural residents who have the most distances to drive, who burn the most gas, and underserved urban residents in areas where there are higher gas prices and lower income,” Buttigieg said last year. “They would gain the most by having that vehicle. These are the very residents who have not always been connected to electric vehicles that are viewed as kind of a luxury item.”
During the week of President Joe Biden’s inauguration, the national average price of gasoline was $2.38 per gallon, according to the U.S. <a href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&amp;s=EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG&amp;f=W">Energy Information Administration</a>, and increased to $3.53 per gallon by the week when Russia invaded Ukraine. Prices surpassed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/gas-prices">$5.00 per gallon</a> in early June before subsiding to $4.49 per gallon as of this week.
Yet the White House — which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/peter-doocy-asks-for-a-straight-answer-on-keystone-gets-the-runaround-from-jen-psaki">nixed</a> expansions to the Keystone XL Pipeline last year and has been accused of dragging its feet on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unacceptable-cruz-gop-senators-demand-end-to-oil-and-gas-lease-permit-delays">issuing</a> oil and gas permits — has asserted that “Putin’s Price Hike” is responsible for rising inflation in recent months.
“Putin’s Price Hike hit hard… high gas prices at the pump, energy, and food prices accounted for around half of the monthly price increases, and gas pump prices are up by $2 a gallon in many places since Russian troops began to threaten Ukraine,” Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-biden-blames-vladimir-putin-for-record-high-inflation">said</a> in a statement last month. “Even as we continue our work to defend freedom in Ukraine, we must do more — and quickly — to get prices down here in the United States.”

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg Tells Americans How They Can Channel Their ‘Pain’ At The Pump

Buttigieg Repeats Argument That Americans Should Buy Electric Cars If They Struggle Filling The Tank

Since July 10, at least 360 people have been killed in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/spain">Spain</a> due to a massive heatwave and thousands of individuals have been forced to flee southern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/france">France</a> due to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fire">wildfire</a> allegedly sparked by a vehicle having mechanical issues.
The Carlos III Health Institute <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/wildfires-rage-france-spain-heatwaves-sweep-europe-2022-07-16/">reported</a> Friday that hundreds have died in Spain as temperatures have skyrocketed to 45 degrees Celsius – or 114 degrees Fahrenheit – in the region. The heatwave has also contributed to massive wildfires in several countries that have scorched thousands of acres of land. In southwest France alone, 12,000 people have been forced to flee to escape multiple blazes.
France&#8217;s Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/environment/fires-in-southwest-france-burn-over-10-000-hectares-of-forests/2638389">blamed</a> the fire in the La-Teste-de-Buch region on an electric vehicle that had some sort of issue near a wooden glen. The second ongoing wildfire in France is also being investigated for criminal activity.
&#8220;80% of the forest fires are estimated to have been started by humans,&#8221; she told France&#8217;s BFMTV News.
The mayor of La Teste, Patrick Davet, the village where the La-Teste-de-Buch fire reportedly started, pushed back on Borne&#8217;s claims, however.
&#8220;What Elisabeth Borne says is totally false,&#8221; he <a href="https://www-sudouest-fr.translate.goog/gironde/incendie-a-la-teste-contrairement-a-ce-que-dit-elisabeth-borne-le-feu-n-est-pas-parti-d-une-voiture-electrique-11671878.php?_x_tr_sl=fr&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=en&amp;_x_tr_pto=sc">told</a> the French outlet Sudouest, according to an online translation. &#8220;The fire started from a van that had broken down and had an electrical problem. Its driver tried to alert the emergency services but the breakdown occurred in an area without a telephone network. He had to walk away to call the fire department. But it was too late.&#8221;
One tourist visiting France told the local press that he and his son were unable to take their belongings as they rushed to avoid the wildfire.
&#8220;We started packing our things but the lady told us, &#8216;No, you have to leave everything as it is,'&#8221; the tourist identified as Matthias <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62175758">told</a> BFMTV. &#8220;You try to keep calm but it&#8217;s hard not to be scared because it happens so fast.&#8221;
The head of France&#8217;s firefighter federation said they are calling for hundreds of thousands of volunteers to help fight the blaze.
&#8220;The situation is highly complex,&#8221; Gregory Allione <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62175758">told</a> France&#8217;s RMC TV. &#8220;Our morale is still good but fatigue sets in fast. That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re calling for a target of 250,000 volunteer firefighters.&#8221;
Allione also blamed the fires on global warming, claiming that frontline workers see its impacts every day.
&#8220;It&#8217;s firefighters, civil security who deal with the effects on a daily basis &#8211; and these effects aren&#8217;t in 2030, they&#8217;re right now,&#8221; Allione told the press.
There are also reportedly at least 20 separate wildfires currently blazing in Spain.

Wildfire France

European Heatwave Kills Hundreds, Electric Vehicle Reportedly Sparks Wildfire That Has Displaced Thousands In France

Heatwave Across Europe Kills At Least 360 In Spain, Wildfires Displace Thousands in France

electric vehicles

Fire

France

Spain

Democratic Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow doubled down on remarks she made last week boasting about the fact that she drives an electric car.
During Senate Democrats&#8217; weekly press briefing Tuesday, Stabenow fired back at criticism from at least one Republican senator, and again boasted about the fact that she drives an electric car. She then blamed soaring gas prices on oil companies price-gouging and attacked Republicans for not standing with Democrats in their push to combat it.
&#8220;Just to respond to one of our oil and gas-enthusiastic Republican senators who just said something about my buying an electric vehicle. I&#8217;ve got to tell you, we have great new Michigan electric vehicles, and my [Chevrolet] Bolt is terrific&#8230; affordable, union labor, and I&#8217;m so proud to have an opportunity to be able to support Michigan workers,” Stabenow said. “What he was doing and what others are doing is trying to divert us from the fact that we have gas gouging at the pump, and have had it for some time.&#8221;
Stabenow pointed to a report by the Senate <a href="https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/DPCC%20Inflation%20Report%20-%20Lowering%20Costs%20for%20Families%5b4%5d%5b1%5d.pdf">Democratic Policy and Communication Committee</a>, which claimed that oil companies made $237 billion in profits in 2021. &#8220;And yet they continue to gouge us at the pump. So we would love to have Republican colleagues working with us on that, rather than accepting oil and gas money to fund their campaigns.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) responds to GOP criticism of her comments about driving an electric vehicle: &#8220;What he was doing and others are doing is trying to divert us from the fact that we have gas-gouging at the pump.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/y72bMklvxA">pic.twitter.com/y72bMklvxA</a>
— Forbes (@Forbes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Forbes/status/1536799352890568707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
Stabenow&#8217;s comments came in response to Wyoming Republican Senator John Barrasso, who blasted Stabenow&#8217;s original remarks, which she made at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, and said that her remarks reflect the sentiment of the party as a whole. &#8220;So what does the Senator from the Democrat Party, who is the chair of the Democrats&#8217; Policy and Communication Committee have to say, which, to me, makes them the spokesmen for the Party?&#8221; Barrasso said during the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1_ROzxcLos">Republicans&#8217; weekly briefing</a> earlier in the day. &#8220;Last week in the Finance Committee, she said it didn&#8217;t matter to her how high gas prices went, because she had an electric car. So that is the spokesmen for the Democrats, the chair of the Policy Committee, saying, &#8216;you don&#8217;t like the high cost? Tough. Buy yourself an electric car.’”
During a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Stabenow <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tone-deaf-while-americans-suffer-inflation-dem-senator-brags-about-avoiding-gas-prices-with-her-ev">boasted</a> about the fact that she had just purchased an electric car. “I do have to say, on the issue of gas prices, after waiting for a long time to have enough chips in this country to finally get my electric vehicle, I got it and drove it from Michigan to here this last weekend, and went by every single gas station,&#8221; Stabenow bragged. “It didn’t matter how high it [gas price] was. And so I’m looking forward to the opportunity for us to move to vehicles that aren’t going to be dependent on the whims of the oil companies and the international markets.&#8221;
Stabenow&#8217;s comments are just the latest example of prominent Democrats bragging about how electric cars make it so that they no longer have to worry about the price of gasoline.
In a November interview with MSNBC, Transportation Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/buttigieg-electric-cars-will-make-it-so-americans-never-have-to-worry-about-gas-prices-again">Pete Buttigieg</a> said that tax credits for electric vehicles would make it easier for families to afford one, and “once they own that vehicle, [they] will never have to worry about gas prices again.” Then in May, Energy Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/perhaps-the-department-should-not-exist-senate-republicans-trade-barbs-with-energy-sec-granholm">Jennifer Granholm</a> said during a hearing of the Senate Energy Committee that she did not remember the price of gasoline because she drove an electric car.

Debbie Stabenow

Dem Senator Stabenow Doubles Down On Tone-Deaf Electric Car Comments

Senate Democrats

An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/electric-cars">electric vehicle maker</a> that rocked the market with a 2022 battery-powered pickup truck, but then struggled to meet demand, is getting $1.5 billion in incentives to build a new plant in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/georgia">Georgia</a>.
Rivian Automotive, founded more than a decade ago by an MIT grad who envisioned supplying America&#8217;s insatiable appetite for trucks with electric models, was once expected to take on Elon Musk&#8217;s Tesla. But the Irvine, California, based company has hemorrhaged money &#8211; and market capitalization &#8211; since going public last November. The announcement was rare good news for Rivian, which is backed by investors including a Saudi billionaire, Amazon, BlackRock, Vanguard and Ford.
&#8220;The Georgia plant is expected to operate at a capacity of 400,000 vehicles per year. The plant will produce Rivian&#8217;s R2 vehicle, a smaller and lower-cost addition to our product lineup, as well as other future product lines,&#8221; a Rivian spokesperson told Newsweek.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
How Rivian’s CEO became the anti-Elon <a href="https://t.co/DaGb1IxG9O">https://t.co/DaGb1IxG9O</a>
&mdash; PJ&#39;s Glass Replacement (@pjsgReplacement) <a href="https://twitter.com/pjsgReplacement/status/1522064550610186240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Rivian was founded in 2009 by R.J. Scaringe, who bought a shuttered Mitsubishi plant and announced plans to make electric coupes. Two years later, Scaringe switched to trucks, generating a buzz and leading other automakers to follow suit. The company was a darling of the tech world when it launched an initial public offering last November. But since then, despite its ballyhooed rollout of the 2022 R1T electric pickup, it has struggled mightily.
Still, Scaringe has fans. A mostly glowing recent profile in Financial Times titled, &#8220;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1cab9637-5135-4da8-b0af-a0b56bab84a5?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter">How Rivian&#8217;s CEO became the anti-Elon</a>,&#8221; described the 39-year-old as &#8220;tall and athletic,&#8221; and resembling &#8220;Clark Kent in appearance and manner, down to the boxy eyeglasses and the slicked-back, jet-black hair.&#8221;
&#8220;He also does the occasional Superman impression, which doesn’t surprise admirers of what he has accomplished since he started Rivian in 2009,&#8221; the article fawns.
The first Rivian R1T model, priced at $67,000, came off the assembly line with great fanfare in Rivian&#8217;s flagship plant last September. But in March, the company blamed supply chain issues when it said it would only be able to make 25,000 vehicles this year, despite orders for more than three times that number.
Rivian&#8217;s stock, which hit a peak of $172 last November following the IPO, is now at just $33 per share. The plunge cost big investors Amazon and Ford billions of dollars and dragged down their own share prices.
Meanwhile, Tesla has announced its &#8220;<a href="https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck">Cybertruck</a>,&#8221; which is expected to roll out in 2023.
The Georgia deal includes roughly $800 million in subsidies from the Peach State&#8217;s Department of Economic Development and the rest from four counties that will host the plant near Atlanta, Bloomberg reported. Rivian expects to create 7,500 jobs in Georgia over the next five years. The total cost of the plant is estimated at $5 billion.
Local residents have mixed views about the project. A <a class="multivariate" href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/facebook" data-sys="1">Facebook</a> group called &#8220;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/652850419050575" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Our Communities Oppose Rivian Assembly Plant</a>&#8221; boasts 3,200 members, and opposes it due to traffic and environmental concerns.

Screen Shot 2022-05-05 at 8.44.29 AM

Beleaguered Electric Pickup Maker Rivian Lands $1.5B Subsidy In Georgia

Georgia

Tesla

Trucks

The California Air Resources Board has called for 35% of new car sales in the state to be battery or hydrogen-powered by 2026 as the state seeks to achieve Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom&#8217;s goal of eliminating the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
&#8220;Pull away from the gas pumps,&#8221; Newsom <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-ban-sale-gas-diesel-vehicles-2035-gavin-newsom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Let us no longer be victims of geopolitical dictators that manipulate global supply chains and global markets.&#8221;
Electric vehicle sales rose to 12.4% across California in 2021, an increase from 7.8% the prior year, <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/business/money-report/california-releases-proposal-to-ban-new-gas-fueled-cars-by-2035/2869374/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> CNBC.
&#8220;The proposal, if enacted by the California Air Resources Board, would require 35% of new passenger vehicle sales to be powered by batteries or hydrogen by 2026, and 100% of sales to be net-zero emissions less than a decade later. The proposal also calls for zero-emissions sales to account for 68% of total sales by 2030,&#8221; the report said.
The report comes as Newsom also announced on Tuesday a $10.5 billion state climate investment program to reduce emissions.
“California continues to lead the way in confronting the sources of emissions that are driving the climate crisis, while bolstering resilience in our most vulnerable communities,” Newsom <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/04/12/california-climate-investments-program-implements-10-5-billion-in-greenhouse-gas-reducing-projects-expected-to-reduce-76-million-metric-tons-of-emissions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
“These investments are reducing emissions across our state with projects that provide incentives for zero-emission vehicles and equipment, increase mobility through transit, build resilience to wildfires, and much more. We’re committed to ensuring that the communities most burdened by air pollution share in these benefits, with cleaner transportation options, cleaner air, increased energy efficiency, and more livable communities,” he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Over 50% of these project investments benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities through cleaner air, increased mobility options, expanded access to clean energy, new employment opportunities, and more.<a href="https://t.co/yMYcMEjivO">https://t.co/yMYcMEjivO</a>
&mdash; Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/status/1514037885745258501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The recommended plan seeks to fulfill an executive order signed by Newsom in 2020 to end selling new gas-powered vehicles within 15 years.
&#8220;It shall be a goal of the State that 100 percent of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks will be zero-emission by 2035. It shall be a further goal of the State that 100 percent of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the State be zero-emission by 2045 for all operations where feasible and by 2035 for drayage trucks,&#8221; Newsom&#8217;s <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/9.23.20-EO-N-79-20-Climate.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">order</a> declared.
The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-governor-bans-sale-of-new-gas-powered-cars-beginning-in-2035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>:
<blockquote>“This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” said Newsom <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/09/23/governor-newsom-announces-california-will-phase-out-gasoline-powered-cars-drastically-reduce-demand-for-fossil-fuel-in-californias-fight-against-climate-change/">in a statement</a>. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse – and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”
The governor enacted the change via an executive order, which does not require approval from the Democrat-dominated California legislature. The executive order does not apply to future used vehicle sales.
According to <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-09-23/gavin-newsom-fracking-ban-california-zero-emissions-cars">The Los Angeles Times</a>, Newsom sold the executive order in a press conference as a way to reduce asthma, curb rising sea levels, and preserve ice sheets, and suggested that other states follow his policy mandate.</blockquote>
California is also not the only state working toward the end of gas-powered vehicles. New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont are among at least <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/%C2%A7177%20States%20%283-17-2022%29%20%28NADA%20sales%29.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15 states</a> pursuing similar goals based on California&#8217;s Low-Emission Vehicle criteria.

California Proposes Ban On Sale Of New Gas-Powered Vehicles By 2035

Washington state is preparing to ban most new gasoline-powered vehicles within the next eight years.
<a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5974-S.SL.pdf?q=20220331142213">SB 5974</a> — a piece of legislation recently signed by Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA) — establishes a target that “all publicly owned and privately owned passenger and light duty vehicles of model year 2030 or later that are sold, purchased, or registered in Washington state be electric vehicles.” An “interagency electric vehicle coordinating council” created by the new law is directed to “complete a scoping plan for achieving the 2030 target.”
&#8220;Transportation is our state’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. There is no way to talk about climate change without talking about transportation,&#8221; Inslee <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/washington-state-plans-ban-non-electric-vehicles-2030-rcna21683">said</a> at the bill signing. &#8220;This package will move us away from the transportation system our grandparents imagined and towards the transportation system our grandchildren dream of.&#8221;
The legislation — dubbed “Clean Cars 2030” — was enacted as part of a $17 billion climate agenda called “<a href="https://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/liias/2022/03/10/legislature-approves-historic-move-ahead-washington-transportation-package/">Move Ahead Washington</a>.” Other facets of the package include $5.4 billion for “carbon reduction and multimodal expansion,” $2.4 billion for “fish passage barrier removals,” $836 million for “four new hybrid-electric ferries,” and $150 million for “ultra-high-speed rail.”
“We’re investing in projects from rural to urban areas across our state, letting kids ride free on our buses, ferries and trains, and so much more — and all without punting the cost to working families,” State Sen. Marko Liias (D) explained. “I’m eager for residents across the state to have more efficient and safer commutes — no matter how they’re traveling.”
The electric vehicle legislation was signed into law as gas prices have recently reached historic levels. According to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">AAA</a>, the average national price of regular gasoline has reached $4.225 per gallon, while the price of diesel has reached $5.117 as of this reporting.
Indeed, other governors are passing new legislation in response to the soaring costs. Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), for instance, wants to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newsom-pushes-400-gas-price-relief-payments-as-california-fuel-prices-reach-record-levels">send</a> $400 to California residents for each registered vehicle, capped at two vehicles. The governor tied the rise in gas prices to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine — despite price increases that have occurred since President Joe Biden entered office in 2021.
“We’re taking immediate action to get money directly into the pockets of Californians who are facing higher gas prices as a direct result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” Newsom said in a statement. “But this package is also focused on protecting people from volatile gas prices, and advancing clean transportation – providing three months of free public transportation, fast-tracking electric vehicle incentives and charging stations, and new funding for local biking and walking projects.”
Newsom also rejected Republicans’ bid to pause California’s hefty gas tax because the move would help “petro-dictators and oil companies.” As a letter from the conservative lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gavin-newsom-opposes-republican-bid-to-pause-sky-high-gas-tax-because-it-would-help-petro-dictators-and-oil-companies">explained</a>, “while market forces are responsible for today’s extreme prices, California’s high taxes represent an added burden, and working Californians simply cannot afford gas prices approaching $6 per gallon.”
As of March 31, the average price of gas in California was $5.896 per gallon, according to AAA.

Jay Inslee

Washington State Plans To Outlaw Most New Gas Cars

A nationwide surge in prices at the pump is leading more Americans to consider buying electric cars — a move favored by the Biden administration.
According to a <a href="https://www.cars.com/articles/cars-com-reports-ev-searches-are-up-173-this-month-but-record-high-gas-prices-arent-yet-enough-for-mass-market-adoption-448207/">report</a> from Cars.com — a company that gives car buyers “data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions” — the number of searches about electric vehicles on their platform has “nearly doubled since last year,” and “increased 173% from Feb. 24 to March 25.”
“The war in Ukraine, proposed infrastructure legislation, rising gas prices and supply-chain issues are just a few drivers of market volatility that have spurred consumer interest in EVs,” explained the site. “Perceived as a purchase that hedges against market swings, especially gas prices, EVs are gaining awareness and popularity, but actual purchases still lag due to extremely limited supply and several barriers to entry, with EVs constituting less than 1% of vehicles on the road.”
Cars.com added that “55% of non-EV owners indicate they are considering an EV for their next purchase, and more than two-thirds would consider switching to electric if gas prices keep rising.” However, 52% of Americans consider cost to be a salient obstacle to buying an electric vehicle.
“Recent macro events including historic inflation, rapidly rising gas prices, and debate over oil production and supply have transformed consumers’ mere curiosity about EVs to an unprecedented level of interest,” Cars.com editor-in-chief Jenni Newman said. “Automakers need to ramp up production, but until the supply-chain shortages level out, the extreme lack of available EVs can’t keep up with the growing demand in the current market.”
Key White House officials have frequently called for American families to buy electric cars in reaction to rising gas prices — a trend that has marked the first year of President Joe Biden’s tenure.
In November, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg <a href="https://thehill.com/dem-lawmakers/583325-buttigieg-electric-vehicle-owners-never-have-to-worry-about-gas-prices-again/">claimed</a> that Americans who buy electric vehicles “never have to worry about gas prices again.”
“The people who stand to benefit most from owning an EV are often rural residents who have the most distances to drive, who burn the most gas, and underserved urban residents in areas where there are higher gas prices and lower income,” Buttigieg said in comments made during an MSNBC interview. “They would gain the most by having that vehicle. These are the very residents who have not always been connected to electric vehicles that are viewed as kind of a luxury item.”
“If we can make the electric vehicle less expensive for everybody, more people can take advantage, and we’ll be selling more American-made EVs, which means in time they’ll become less expensive to make and to buy for everybody,” he added.
According to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">AAA</a>, the average national price of regular gasoline has reached $4.225 per gallon, while the price of diesel has reached $5.117 as of this reporting.

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg Speaks To The Media At The White House

In Line With White House Hopes, Rising Gas Prices Lead To Surge In Electric Car Interest

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