Summary
- Vice President Kamala Harris no longer supports banning gasoline-powered cars
- During a campaign rally in Michigan, Harris pledged to support innovation in advanced batteries and electric vehicles
- Harris was previously a strong supporter of outlawing gasoline-powered cars as a senator
- Harris had backed the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2019, which aimed to transition the US to 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2040
- The EPA is expected to enact regulations resulting in more electric or hybrid vehicles by 2032, despite low demand
Article
Vice President Kamala Harris recently backtracked on her previous support for banning gasoline-powered cars, promising that she would never tell Americans what type of car they have to drive. This announcement was made during a campaign rally in Flint, Michigan, where Harris also discussed plans to retool existing factories and support innovation in advanced batteries and electric vehicles. Her statement was likely in response to a Trump campaign ad in Michigan claiming that Harris wants to end all gas-powered cars, which was said to be negatively affecting auto workers in the state.
Formerly, Harris had been a strong supporter of outlawing gasoline-powered vehicles during her time as a senator. She co-sponsored the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2019 which aimed to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2040. This legislation would have required automobile companies to transition away from fossil fuels gradually, with a mandate for 50% of new passenger vehicle sales being zero emission cars by 2030, ramping up annually until 100% of new vehicles sold would have to be electric or hydrogen-powered by 2040.
Despite her previous support for aggressive standards, Harris has now shifted her stance. The Harris-Biden administration recently finalized a crackdown on gas cars, pushing the EPA to enact regulations resulting in the majority of passenger cars and light trucks sold by 2032 being electric or hybrid vehicles. The EPA rule aims to have 56% of new vehicles sold in the US be electric by 2032, along with 13% plug-in hybrids or partially electric cars, although there is currently relatively low demand for these vehicles.
During her Michigan rally, Harris emphasized her commitment to investing in communities like Flint, retooling existing factories, hiring locally, and working with unions to create good-paying jobs. She also expressed her intent to invest in American industries like steel, iron, and the auto industry, ensuring that advancements in technology, such as advanced batteries and electric vehicles, are both invented and built in America by American union workers. This message resonated with Michigan voters, a crucial swing state with 15 Electoral College votes.
The realclearpolitics average of polls currently shows Harris leading Trump in Michigan by less than a percentage point, making it a critical state in the upcoming election. Harris’s shift in stance on gas-powered vehicles reflects her campaign strategy to appeal to a wider range of voters, particularly in states like Michigan where the auto industry plays a significant role in the economy. By emphasizing job creation and investment in American industries, Harris aims to secure support in key battleground states like Michigan as she continues her campaign for reelection.
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