Staff Reports
In 2021, Joe Biden, the President of the United States, attempted to push Americans to switch from gas-powered vehicles to electric ones. He faced a challenge as there were not enough electric vehicle (EV) charging stations available. To address this issue, he allocated $7.5 billion to build a network of EV chargers, aiming for 500,000 stations by 2030. However, as of 2024, this effort has fallen short, resulting in wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.
Biden Threw $7.5 Billion at EV Chargers in 2021.
Here's How Many Have Been Built Since. https://t.co/zVCL68qmG7
— Spencer Brown (@itsSpencerBrown) May 9, 2024
Even before taking office, President Biden made it clear that he wanted to reduce the use of fossil fuels and promote green energy. Despite facing legal obstacles, his administration has continued to invest substantial amounts of taxpayer money in environmental initiatives. Unfortunately, the results of these efforts have been disappointing.
According to The Washington Post, as of the spring of 2024, only seven EV charging stations were operational in four states – New York, Ohio, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. These seven stations can accommodate a total of 38 electric vehicles, despite the initial plan to build up to 20,000 charging spots or around 5,000 stations with the allocated $7.5 billion.
Republican members of the House of Representatives have raised concerns about the slow progress of EV charger implementation. In a letter to the Biden administration, they expressed worries about mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and highlighted issues such as delays in charger delivery, labor contracting requirements, and minimum operating standards for chargers.
As of the end of 2023, only a limited number of EV chargers had been built, showing minimal progress since the funding allocation. The administration has failed to meet its goal of 500,000 new EV chargers by 2030, and even the 5,000 stations that were promised with the $7.5 billion funding have not materialized.
