Summary
- Harris’ campaign denied supporting electric vehicle mandates, but her past actions suggest otherwise
- Harris co-sponsored the Zero Emissions Vehicles Act in 2019, pushing for all new car sales to be EVs by 2040
- The Biden administration, where Harris is the second-highest ranking member, aims to have 50% of new auto sales be EVs by 2030
- Despite the administration’s efforts to promote EVs, the agenda has faced challenges like consumer hesitation and lack of charging infrastructure
- The administration’s EV agenda has not been very successful so far, with issues like limited charging infrastructure in certain parts of the country
Article
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team has denied that she supports electric vehicle mandates, calling it a “lie.” However, her previous record suggests otherwise. Harris co-sponsored the Zero Emissions Vehicles Act in 2019, which initially proposed requiring all new car sales to be electric vehicles or emissions-free by 2040. During her failed presidential bid in 2020, Harris campaigned on having all new car sales be zero-emissions models by 2035. Despite the campaign’s denial, Harris has backed EV mandates in the past.
As the second-highest ranking member of the Biden administration, Harris presided over a massive push to increase the adoption of electric vehicles. The Biden administration has set a goal of having EVs or other zero-emissions models make up 50% of new auto sales by 2030. Regulatory agencies like the EPA and NHTSA have promulgated stringent regulations to force auto manufacturers to increase the share of EVs and zero-emissions cars in their fleets by 2032. Additionally, the administration is spending billions of dollars to boost EV production, adoption, and charging infrastructure.
Despite the administration’s efforts, the EV agenda has faced challenges. Consumers are still hesitant to switch to electric vehicles, and manufacturers are losing money on their EV lines. Executives have backed away from some near-term production targets, indicating the difficulties in transitioning to electrified vehicles. Furthermore, charging infrastructure remains concentrated in densely populated areas, with a $7.5 billion program to build out charging stations in underserved regions resulting in only a few stations being built so far.
The Harris campaign’s denial of supporting electric vehicle mandates contradicts her past actions and statements on the issue. While in the Senate and during her presidential campaign, Harris advocated for a transition to zero-emissions vehicles, showing her support for EV mandates. The Biden administration’s ambitious goals for EV adoption align with Harris’ previous positions, indicating a strong push towards increasing electric vehicle usage in the country.
Overall, Vice President Kamala Harris has a history of supporting electric vehicle mandates and promoting the transition to zero-emissions vehicles. While her campaign team denies her current support for such mandates, her past actions in the Senate and as part of the Biden administration suggest otherwise. The administration’s efforts to boost EV production and adoption face challenges, but the push towards electrified vehicles remains a key component of their environmental and economic agenda.
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