Trump is attacking EVs with executive orders, but they mostly show other damage

President Trump has already attacked electric vehicles with high-profile orders on his first day, but in particular he is hinting at a future attack on EVs that could do more damage to the environment.

As part of the “Unleashing American Energy” order, one of the many executive orders signed by Trump on his first day, the President officially ended a “mandate” that never really existed and signed additional measures against electric vehicles:

(e) ending the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate” and promoting real consumer choice, which is essential for economic growth and innovation, by removing regulatory barriers to vehicle entry; by ensuring a level playing field for regulating the level of consumer choice in vehicles; by terminating, where appropriate, emissions reductions that serve to limit the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles; and considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived market distortions imposed by the government in favor of EVs over other technologies and effectively justifying their purchase by individuals, private businesses, and government agencies alike by providing unaffordable alternative vehicles;

There has never really been a real “EV mandate” in the US other than the goal of achieving 50% EV sales by 2030.

But the other order points to Trump trying to re-kill the country's CARB program, which he tried and failed to do in his first term.

The President's order also mentions “considered termination” of EV subsidies. That's something he campaigned on, but it sounds like it might have to wait now. He will also need the support of Congress to make this happen.

In a similar move, President Trump also ordered all agencies to stop subsidizing electric vehicle charging stations:

(a) All agencies shall immediately suspend the payment of funds appropriated by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169) or the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), including but not limited to electricity funds. vehicle charging stations made available through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging Infrastructure and Fueling Decision Grant Program, and will review their procedures, policies, and programs for issuing grants, loans, contracts, and any other financial payments of those allocated funds to comply with the law and the policy described in the section 2 of this order.

Finally, he also ordered all agencies to identify regulations that will limit “the development, or the use of domestic energy sources”, but he added “with special attention to oil, natural gas, coal, electric power, biofuels, precious minerals, and nuclear energy sources.” to leave out. solar energy.

Electrek's Take

So far, no major damage has been done. “Authority” was nothing. Trump went after CARB last time, but it didn't work, and I doubt it will work this time.

The Biden administration was able to get a lot of funding for the charging station before the exit.

Therefore, most of the real impact will come from Congress, which is controlled by Trump's GOP. He may find what he is looking for here, but there will likely be a lot of discussion going on.

I wouldn't be surprised if the US keeps the tax credit for EVs until next year.