Staff Reports
The electric vehicle (EV) brigade keeps charging ahead, even as the road gets bumpier for their beloved mandates and subsidies. Despite high costs, inadequate charging stations, and consumer apathy, proponents remain fixated on the dream of a gas-free America. It’s akin to a group of teenagers convinced they’re going to transform a dilapidated old car into a sweet ride, all while ignoring the evidence that suggests they might end up stranded.
Although the Biden administration’s emissions standards—often dubbed an EV mandate—won’t officially roll out until 2032, that doesn’t stop supporters from banging the drum for a vehicle revolution. It turns out that automakers are losing billions on EV sales and consumer interest is plummeting faster than the value of a DeLorean, but the peppy proponents seem blissfully unaware. They’re still attempting to shove EVs down America’s throat, hoping for a miracle that never seems to arrive.
Despite high costs and questionable benefits, proponents of EV mandates continue to defend policy https://t.co/DQp4fTGQB4 via @JustTheNews
— Larry Wasem (@LarryWasem) August 5, 2024
In a Senate Budget Hearing recently, a panel of EV enthusiasts faced some pointed questions about the actual economics behind their dreams. One senator raised a particularly fair question: if EVs are as amazing as they claim, why must taxpayers cough up money in the form of tax credits just to get people to buy them? The panel’s representative danced around the answer like a politician at a fundraiser, citing the fact that EVs typically cost about $10,000 more than their gas-guzzling counterparts; yet he insisted that this was merely a temporary fix while battery costs decrease. Talk about wishful thinking.
While proponents claim that EVs are paramount for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the reality is less glorious. Statistics revealed that even if these high-tech contraptions can marginally lower emissions down the line, they initially create more pollution during the manufacturing process. Costs might be climbing, but expected emissions reductions show about as much promise as a New Year’s resolution at a buffet. Despite boasting that electric vehicles could help cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly, the truth is that it may take “tens of thousands of miles” before any real benefits are observed.
Furthermore, critics of the EV push highlight the environmental impacts of lithium mining—essential for EV batteries. Apparently, the eco-friendly crusaders didn’t get the memo that lithium mining can wreak havoc on local environments. Advocates are quick to promote EVs, yet they often overlook the particulate emissions emitted from heavier vehicles, which might ironically contribute to more pollution. After all, switching from gas-guzzlers to heavy EVs only to have increased wear on tires feels like a roundabout way of promoting greener living.
As the EV fans continue to negotiate the bumpy road ahead, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse insists that these vehicles are the key to climate safety. This proclamation was met with skepticism, as many weigh their desires against concrete evidence. Critics like Michael Buschbacher question whether the mandate proponents are genuinely convinced of their bet. With such changed expectations about energy and environmental policies, there’s little clarity on how these pie-in-the-sky ideas will actually materialize. In short, while technology has made leaps and bounds in history, it’s been through innovation, not regulation. It seems that wishing for a brilliant auto future won’t get anyone very far if the fundamentals aren’t in place.
