Donald Trump, who has often criticized electric vehicles (EVs) and their supporters, seems to have altered his stance somewhat, influenced by Elon Musk’s endorsement. Despite previously harsh comments, including wishing their supporters ill and calling the industry’s support lunacy, Trump acknowledged his new position during a rally in Atlanta, Georgia. He mentioned that he supports electric cars primarily due to Musk’s strong endorsement, implying that he felt compelled to align with Musk, the world’s richest person.
Trump clarified that his support for EVs is largely transactional. He mentioned having no choice but to endorse them and noted that electric vehicles are suitable for only a small portion of the population. He also emphasized the importance of having a wide variety of cars available.
During his speech, Trump cited an exaggerated figure of $9 trillion needed to build a network of electric car chargers, a number not supported by industry or government estimates. The Biden administration aims to construct 500,000 chargers, though it recognizes the need for about 28 million. Progress on this infrastructure has been slow, despite several billion dollars allocated for the effort.
Musk, Tesla’s CEO and a prominent figure on social media with increasingly rightwing views, has supported Trump’s return to the White House, despite Trump’s previous opposition to EVs. Although Musk denied plans to donate $45 million monthly to a Super Pac for Trump’s campaign, he did not specify how much he intended to contribute.
Trump has repeatedly warned that the push for electric cars would harm the US automotive industry, falsely claiming that EVs are ineffective in cold weather and unsuitable for long-distance travel. He has expressed concerns about the marketability of Mexican-made EVs in the US.
Trump has vowed that a new administration under his leadership would immediately repeal what he called Joe Biden’s “insane electric vehicle mandate,” although no such mandate exists. Biden has focused on tightening vehicle pollution regulations to promote EVs and has enacted legislation offering tax rebates for new EV purchases.
Last year, EV sales in the US surpassed one million for the first time, with analysts predicting continued growth despite potential reductions in government support. Nonetheless, challenges remain, including the high cost of EVs compared to traditional vehicles, a lack of charging infrastructure, and supply chain issues. Environmental advocates stress the need for greater efforts to reduce reliance on gas-powered cars, given the significant role of transportation in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
