Will Elon Musk’s influence temper Trump’s anti-EV stance?
In an article in Wired, Aarian Marshall assesses how Trump’s electoral win could impact the future of electric vehicle adoption in the United States.
Although Trump has promised to “end the electric vehicle mandate on day one” of his presidency, his close relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk could affect how the next administration treats EVs. In fact, Trump has explicitly said he “has to be” in favor of electric cars because “Elon endorsed me very strongly.”
According to Marshall, “It will likely prove difficult and time-consuming for Trump and his allies to undo four years of EV support. Because so many climate-related policies are enshrined in federal law, he will need help from Congress to nix them.” The federal government could go after EV subsidies, but other regulations will be harder to backtrack on.
The new administration could also target infrastructure funding that has not yet been distributed or allocated, which could include money for EV infrastructure. Meanwhile, Trump and Biden are aligned on high tariffs which effectively prevent Chinese car manufacturers from selling vehicles in the United States.
FULL STORY: Trump Won. What Will Happen to Electric Vehicles?
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