OPINION:
In March 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule which set aggressive emissions standards for vehicles. The Biden-era EPA projected that an estimated 56% of new vehicles sold between 2030 and 2032 must be electric to comply with these stringent tailpipe emission rules.
There is no denying this reality: the finalized rule was a de facto electric vehicle (EV) mandate that aimed to assist President Joe Biden in reaching his goal of having at least half of all new car sales be electric by 2030.
This electric vehicle mandate not only reflects misguided government overreach; it is also wildly unpopular in Michigan, where we believe in consumer choice and innovation.
For years, I have emphasized that I am not opposed to EVs but rather opposed to EV mandates.
EVs may be a great option for some consumers, but currently they are unaffordable and unrealistic options for many Americans.
On average, EVs are around $13,000 more expensive than an internal combustion engine vehicle.
In addition to creating financial challenges for many families, the finalized standards are unattainable. Currently, our electric grid is not equipped to handle the power demands of all these new vehicles, and most areas in the country lack the necessary charging infrastructure to support the goal of having 56% of all new vehicles be electric.
Building these cars will also pose a significant challenge as we lack access to the critical minerals needed to produce them. In fact, a rushed transition to EVs would increase our dependence on China, our foreign adversary, which controls 90% of the EV supply chain in aggregate.
Furthermore, EVs continue to pile up on many dealership lots across the country, as they are not a realistic option for many families. According to Consumer Reports, EVs experience almost 80% more issues and are generally less reliable than vehicles with internal combustion engines. EVs also typically have about half the range of internal combustion engine vehicles, and this range drops to around 40% in colder temperatures. These factors present a challenge for many consumers, including my constituents back home in Michigan.
As a vice chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, I support realistic options to reduce emissions. However, as a Michigander, I understand how we must allow innovation and not a blanket mandate to lead the way to our automotive future. While EVs may play a substantial role in the future of the auto industry, Washington should not discount other technologies like hydrogen, hybrids, and the internal combustion engine.
Fortunately, President Donald Trump has already taken action to eliminate the EV mandate, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to promoting consumer choice and supporting our nation’s auto workers. As one of his first acts in office, President Trump issued an executive order to revoke President Biden’s 50% EV target. Since then, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced that the EPA will move to reconsider the Biden administration’s vehicle emission standards.
While this comes as welcome news for consumers and auto workers alike, we must ensure that future administrations cannot impose similar mandates that restrict vehicle availability, price American families out of the market, and create favoritism within the auto industry.
For that reason, I have introduced the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act, or the CARS Act, with Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho. This critical legislation would prevent the implementation of regulations that seek to limit consumer choice, allowing consumers instead to choose the vehicle that best meets their needs.
Washington bureaucrats do not know better than engineers back in Michigan. We must pass the CARS Act to ensure that the future of the industry is forged through innovation and not heavy-handed mandates. It’s time for us to shift gears.
• Rep. Tim Walberg, the Dean of Michigan’s Congressional delegation, is serving his ninth term in Congress as the representative of southern Michigan. He chairs the Education and Workforce Committee, is a member of the Natural Resources Committee, and serves as a vice chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.