Summary
- Former President Donald Trump’s claims about electric vehicles (EVs) are being fact-checked
- Democrats have made investments to strengthen the EV industry in Michigan, but Republicans view it differently
- Trump has criticized tax credits for EV purchases, while they are seen as important to accelerate the transition
- There has been significant federal funding for EV chargers, leading to a rapid increase in charging infrastructure
- Trump’s claims about the exorbitant costs and limitations of EVs are being disproven by the data available
Article
Former President Donald Trump has made multiple preposterous claims about electric vehicles (EVs), leading to a need for fact-checking. Despite a slight shift in tone since Tesla CEO Elon Musk endorsed him, Trump continues to spread misinformation about EVs, EV charging, and automotive manufacturing. His comments seem to serve a larger agenda of questioning the transition to EVs and keeping his constituency in the dark about the benefits of electric transportation.
During a speech in Michigan, Trump implied that the transition to electric vehicles had negatively impacted the Michigan labor force. However, Democrats have made investments to strengthen the EV industry in Michigan, leading to job growth and economic opportunities. Over $20 billion has been invested in EV manufacturing in Michigan, showcasing the state’s commitment to the industry’s growth and development.
Trump has criticized tax credits and incentives for EVs, stating that they are not beneficial. However, federal tax credits play a crucial role in accelerating the transition to EVs and making them accessible to more consumers. These credits reduce the initial cost of new and used EVs, making them more affordable for buyers and helping to drive the adoption of electric vehicles.
In one of his speeches, Trump claimed that the Biden-Harris administration had spent $9 billion on just eight EV chargers, which he deemed exorbitantly expensive. However, since the current administration took office, the number of publicly available EV chargers has doubled, and the infrastructure for EV charging continues to expand. Federal funding has enabled the installation of thousands of new charging ports across the country, with plans for further growth and development.
Trump’s assertion that the cost of EV chargers would amount to trillions of dollars for taxpayers is unfounded. Updated data from 10 states shows that the government’s share of building each charging port is around $150,000, on average. The federal government’s investment in EV charging infrastructure aims to expand the network of charging stations and make EV charging more accessible to consumers across the country.
Finally, Trump has vowed to end the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate on Day 1, claiming that there is a limited market for EVs due to cost and battery range issues. However, data shows that many EVs have a lower total cost of ownership over 5 years compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. Additionally, the majority of trips taken in personal vehicles are relatively short, making range limitations less of a hindrance to EV adoption. Overall, Trump’s claims about EVs and their market viability are unfounded and misleading.
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