Trump Transition Workforce Plans To Take A Sledgehammer To Biden Period EV Insurance policies

By Imran Last updated Dec 17, 2024

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Reuters says it has seen the proposals the Trump transition group is recommending for the transportation sector, they usually embody taking the parts of the Inflation Discount Act that take care of electrical automobiles and EV charging infrastructure, ripping them out by the roots, and throwing them within the trash. As well as, the transition group is recommending sweeping modifications to strengthen measures that may blocking vehicles, elements, and battery supplies from China. The suggestions, which haven’t been beforehand reported, come because the US electrical automobile transition stalls and China’s closely backed EV business continues to surge partially due to its superior battery provide chain.

On the marketing campaign path, Trump vowed to ease rules on gasoline- and diesel-powered automobiles and roll again what he referred to as Biden’s EV mandate. It was by no means a mandate in any respect, however the fact and MAGAlomaniacs have a fraught relationship that permits them to say something they need and their so-called base will lap it up like a cat with candy cream. Being incurious and keen to simply accept each lie and distortion you hear is a trademark of the Crimson Hat squadron.

The transition group additionally recommends imposing tariffs on all battery supplies sourced from wherever exterior america after which negotiating particular person exemptions with allies, the doc reveals. Taken collectively, Reuters says, the suggestions are a stark departure from Biden administration coverage, which sought to steadiness encouraging a home battery provide chain, separate from China, with a speedy EV transition. The transition group plan would take the cash now flowing into constructing charging stations and making EVs inexpensive and redirecting it into nationwide protection priorities, together with securing provides and supplies wanted to fabricate batteries from sources that haven’t been tainted with the stain of Chinese language know-how. It’s the previous “yellow peril” trope up to date for the twenty first century.

Transition Workforce Shenanigans

The Trump transition group has been assigned the duty of crafting a technique for swift implementation of recent automotive insurance policies. The group additionally requires eliminating the Biden administration’s $7500 tax credit score for shopper EV purchases. If applied, the modifications might considerably impression the manufacturing and sale of electrical vehicles within the US at a time when many legacy automakers, together with Normal Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, have dedicated greater than $100 billion to the EV revolution. Hyundai and Kia have additionally launched a variety of electrical vehicles to the US market.

Chopping authorities EV assist might additionally damage gross sales of Tesla, the dominant vendor of electrical vehicles within the US, however Elon Musk — who spent greater than 1 / 4 of a billion {dollars} serving to to elect Trump — has mentioned that dropping subsidies would damage rivals greater than Tesla. Apparently the good and highly effective Musk has forgotten that he was as soon as the champion for electrical vehicles and is blissful to see his rivals — and the atmosphere — endure if it means extra billions in his pocket.

The transition group requires clawing again no matter funds stay from Biden’s $7.5 billion plan to construct charging stations and shifting the cash to battery minerals processing and the “nationwide protection provide chain and important infrastructure.” Whereas batteries, minerals, and different EV elements are “essential to protection manufacturing,” electrical automobiles “and charging stations should not,” the doc says.

The Protection Division — which can quickly be headed by Ron DeSantis, who is aware of as a lot about working the army as most individuals learn about nuclear fusion — lately has highlighted US strategic vulnerabilities due to China’s dominance of the mining and refining of essential minerals, together with graphite and lithium wanted for batteries and uncommon earth metals utilized in each EV motors and army plane. A 2021 authorities report mentioned the US army faces “escalating energy necessities” for weapons and communication gear, amongst different applied sciences. “Assured sources of essential minerals and supplies” are “essential to U.S. nationwide safety,” the report discovered.

Trump transition group spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mentioned voters gave Trump a mandate to ship on marketing campaign guarantees, together with stopping authorities assaults on gasoline-powered vehicles. “When he takes workplace, President Trump will assist the auto business, permitting area for each gasoline powered vehicles and electrical automobiles,” Leavitt mentioned in a press release.

Extra Air pollution, Fewer Miles Per Gallon

Automakers globally have been shifting towards electrical automobiles partially to adjust to stricter authorities limits on climate-damaging tailpipe air pollution. However the transition group suggestions would enable automakers to provide extra gasoline automobiles by rolling again emissions and gas economic system requirements championed by the Biden administration. The transition group proposes shifting these rules again to 2019 ranges, which might enable a mean of about 25% extra emissions per automobile mile than the present 2025 limits, and the common gas economic system to be about 15% decrease. That’s fantastic information for the oil corporations that paid huge bucks to get Trump elected, however not for individuals with lungs, because the fantastic particulates created when gasoline and diesel are burned can cross straight into the bloodstream, inflicting untold well being points, particularly for younger youngsters and older Individuals.

Naturally, the proposal additionally recommends blocking California from setting its personal extra restrictive automobile emissions requirements, which greater than a dozen different states have adopted. Trump barred California from setting harder necessities throughout his first time period, a coverage that Biden reversed. California has requested the Environmental Safety Company for one more waiver to include a stronger set of necessities starting in 2026. These necessities would finally result in all automobiles offered in California to be electrical, plug-in hybrids, or hydrogen -powered by 2035. The present EPA has not but authorized California’s request, however this week the US Supreme Court docket dismissed an enchantment by a number of Crimson States to pressure their worldview on the residents of California. Nothing says “states rights” like barring one other state from exercising its finest judgement about what’s finest for its residents.

Most of the transition group proposals seem geared toward encouraging home battery manufacturing, primarily for defense-related pursuits, Reuters says. Others seem geared toward defending automakers, even these producing EVs, in america. The proposals embody:

Instituting tariffs on “EV provide chain” imports together with batteries, essential minerals, and charging elements. The proposal considered by Reuters mentioned the administration ought to use Part 232 tariffs, which goal nationwide safety threats, to restrict imports of such merchandise.
Waiving environmental opinions to hurry up “federally funded EV infrastructure initiatives,” together with battery recycling and manufacturing, charging stations, and important mineral manufacturing.
Increasing export restrictions on EV battery know-how to adversarial nations.
Offering assist for exports of U.S.-made EV batteries by the Export-Import Financial institution of america.
Utilizing tariffs as a “negotiating device” to open international markets to U.S. auto exports, together with EVs.
Eliminating necessities that federal businesses buy EVs. A Biden coverage requires all federal acquisitions of vehicles and smaller vehicles to be zero-emission automobiles by the top of 2027.
Ending DOD packages geared toward buying or growing electrical army automobiles.

As well as, the Trumpies intend to cancel the contract the US Postal Service signed with Oshkosh Protection to fabricate battery-electric postal automobiles. Can’t have postal staff having fun with higher well being or postal patrons benefiting from decrease working prices when there are oil corporations to guard, now can we? They purchased and paid for this new authorities and count on to reap their simply rewards.

You would possibly assume most Individuals can be upset about guidelines that may enable new vehicles to get worse gas economic system. Folks lose their minds if the value of gasoline goes up a nickel, however apparently they don’t care a flying fig leaf if they’ve to purchase extra gasoline to maintain their chariots working. Logic and customary sense haven’t any position to play within the deliberations of the incoming administration or its supporters.