This is the last calendar year of President Joe Biden’s term, a period that saw an increase in electric vehicles in his federal fleet. The administration released a fact sheet in December praising the increase in electric and hybrid vehicles to 82,000 vehicles, up from 2,000 under then-President Donald Trump. But the administration’s attempts to replicate this switch to electric vehicles nationwide have raised concerns among industry insiders.
Earlier this year, Ford Motor Co. estimated that it could reduce the workforce needed to make EVs by 40%. United Auto Workers President Sean Fein said the union is confident it will protect its members from job losses caused by the electric vehicle movement.
“The UAW has been at the forefront of environmental issues and working class issues. The biggest thing for us is that no matter which direction this issue goes, our members and working class people safety,” Fein said in January. “We’re not afraid of where we’re going.”
In April, Ford reported a $1.3 billion loss on its EV division for the first quarter of 2024, which equates to about $132,000 per vehicle sold. The loss came as the automaker lowered the price of its electric models while allocating funds to further research. Electric vehicle revenue was $100 million, down 84% from last year. Ford President and CEO Jim Farley assured shareholders that Ford is pursuing greater value in every vehicle.
“Customers want vehicles they are passionate about, driving options and quality.
It’s constantly improving and delivering great value,” Farley said in a statement released with Ford’s third-quarter results.
Stewart Strop, executive director of EV intelligence at J.D. Power, released a statement in May when his company released its latest survey on EV consideration, reporting that interest had declined for the first time since the survey began in 2021. The company’s survey of more than 8,000 respondents found a response rate of 24%. They reported that they were “very likely” to consider moving to an electric vehicle, but the move to electric vehicles was down 2% from last year.
“As the industry moves step by step towards mass consumer adoption, the main hurdle to getting consumers behind the wheel of an EV is the continued lack of affordable vehicles. , concerns about charging, and a lack of knowledge about EV ownership propositions, including incentives,” Strop said. . “As understanding of EV incentives increases, so does the likelihood of consideration. However, approximately 40% of shoppers say they are unsure about such incentives.”
Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda has argued that the U.S. mandate for electric vehicles will have a negative impact on jobs in the U.S. and Japan.
“There are 5.5 million people involved in the auto industry in Japan,” Toyoda told reporters in October. “Some of them have been working in engine-related jobs for a long time. If electric vehicles become the only option, including our suppliers, their jobs will be lost. ”
While the U.S. Department of Transportation is promoting electric vehicles based on the Biden administration’s pledge, it is struggling to provide chargers. By May, the administration had set aside $7.5 billion over two years to build only about eight charging stations. The company’s goal is to deploy 500,000 new chargers by 2030.
In December, the Biden administration reported it would install 10,500 charging ports at federal facilities, with 52,500 charging ports being installed nationwide.
The U.S. Postal Service has purchased 9,250 E-Transit vans from Ford through the end of 2024 in an effort to go electric. This comes after the Biden administration pursued a 50% EV mandate in 2030, in addition to the 67% mandate in 2032.
President-elect Donald Trump has hinted that mandating EVs would be a “disaster” for the industry. President Trump visited Dayton, Ohio in March, disparaging electric cars and pledging a campaign promise to preserve the region’s auto industry. The 2024 candidate criticized China’s involvement in building car factories in Mexico and threatened tariffs.
Click here to read the full Washington Examiner article
By November, President Trump’s stance had softened as he shuttled to and from SpaceX launches, where the convoy’s lineup included Tesla’s Cybertruck. The convoy included a mix of typical black Chevrolet sport-utility vehicles and Ford trucks, as well as the only electric vehicle. Presidents have long traveled in motorcades, which typically use uniform vehicles for their safety. The Cybertruck’s participation was a tribute to SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who welcomed Trump to the launch site.
Meanwhile, from January to the end of October of this year, Americans purchased 1,269,949 plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Consumers are on track to sell more than 1.4 million plug-in electric vehicles last year, an increase of more than 50% compared to 2022 at the time.
