For EV enthusiasts generally and EVCS specifically, the election results are cause for great optimism. Joe Biden has shown himself to be a true friend to the electric mobility industry, so we thought we’d outline a few ways a Biden presidency will likely benefit our company, our mission and our customers.
Subsidization of EV Infrastructure
According to The Detroit News, while at a campaign stop in Toledo, Ohio on October 12th, Biden boasted of plans to create a nationwide “network of 500,000 charging stations” by 2030, primarily along major US highway routes where traditional fueling stations still dominate. He made a similar claim during the first presidential debate. While specifics were hazy, the implication is that federal funding will be made available to network operators like EVCS who have the know-how and wherewithal to implement his vision.
Federal Rebates
CleanTechnica.com published an article on November 1st detailing some of Biden’s EV-related tax proposals. They include restoring the $7,500 tax credit permanently for all US-made EVs, narrowing it to those earning less than $250,000 per year, and removing the manufacturer cap, which penalizes industry leaders like GM and Tesla. This will make EVs more accessible, especially to those with limited means, thereby increasing the number of EVs on the road and, by association, the need for infrastructure.
Government Fleet Vehicles
A November 9th piece in Car and Driver emphasized Biden’s vision of EVs as “the future of transportation.” As such, he’s not only looking to promote greater EV participation in the market, but also within the government itself, replacing outdated ICE fleet vehicles with modern, American-made electric alternatives. We have always touted our history of working with government municipalities and our fleet-specific turnkey solutions, so we should be well positioned to assist in such a transition.
Fuel Economy Standards
The Trump administration rolled back many of the Obama-era fuel economy standards over its four years in power. According to FactCheck.org, these “were originally set to hit an average of 54.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars… by 2025.” The idea was to incentivize auto manufacturers to produce vehicles (like EVs) that would curtail fossil fuel usage and therefore reduce pollution. With Biden in the White House, it seems almost assured that, although delayed, a return to these standards will be fast-tracked, requiring more installations to support the greater EV output.
Bringing Attention to Climate Change
Biden has made the climate change battle a consistent part of his platform and routinely plugs electrified transportation as a necessary part of the solution. Moreover, he sees the California EV market, where EVCS has been a key player in infrastructure generation, as a model of environmental activism for the rest of the nation to follow. According to CNBC, he proclaimed, “I’m all for electric cars. I’ve given big incentives for electric cars. What they’ve done in California is just crazy.”
Additional Factors
Biden’s spirited tone toward EVs will promote the idea of responsible mobility to nationwide audiences. His investments in environmental sciences will encourage new technology advancements. His plan to rein in COVID will get more EVs back on the road as people start traveling again. And his promise to reduce foreign tariffs will lower the cost of international auto parts, making EVs cheaper to produce and more affordable to buy. All of these things will result in a need for the kind of infrastructure we provide.
Obviously, such change won’t happen in a bubble, but fortunately, Biden seems to have the support of the big carmakers as well. On a recent call regarding battery technology, GM’s VP of Electric & Autonomous Programs, Ken Morris, stated, “We’re looking forward to working with the Biden administration in support of policies that will foster greater adoption of EVs across all 50 states and encourage investments in R&D and manufacturing.” Promising news, indeed.
Congratulations President-elect Biden and we look forward to working with you on building a zero-emission transportation future.
Who says Congress can’t get anything done? On July 1st, the House of Representatives passed the H.R.2 – Moving Forward Act sponsored by Peter DeFazio (D-OR), a colossal $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that, we’re pleased to say, boasts numerous policies intended to advance the cause of electric mobility. The 2,300-page behemoth is a bit of a mish-mash, so we’ve taken the liberty of going through it ourselves and summarizing the parts that are most critical to the EVCS mission. Here are some ways the bill benefits us and our clients...
It can sometimes be difficult to wade through the flurry of sustainable energy bills being proposed in Congress. Several of them are in various stages of the legislative process at any one time, and many never make it out of committee. However, the recently announced Build GREEN Act seems destined for the President’s desk at some point soon, as it comes during a time when crumbling infrastructure and the need to create jobs has become a priority for the current administration. It also has the backing of five powerful progressives in Congress – Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) along with House Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Andrew Levin (D-MI).
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