In a recent plea, nearly 4,000 dealerships have collectively urged President Biden to apply the brakes to the rapid acceleration of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The call, conveyed in a letter sent on a Tuesday, specifically references an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal from April. This proposal envisions an ambitious trajectory, aiming to elevate battery-powered vehicles to represent 60 percent of new-vehicle sales by the 2030 model year and an even more substantial 67 percent by 2032.
Expressing their concerns, the dealerships advocate for a tempered approach, emphasizing that while electric vehicles hold immense appeal and are expected to gain popularity over time, the current demand does not align with the influx of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) inundating their lots. The dealerships, a total of 3,882 thus far, representing a diverse range of car brands in states like California, Michigan, Colorado, and New York, assert that consumers are not yet prepared to fully embrace electric vehicles. They cite unresolved challenges such as the availability of reliable charging networks, concerns about vehicle affordability, and the pervasive issue of range anxiety.
While legislative efforts like the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act aim to tackle these challenges by allocating federal funds for a national EV charging network, boosting domestic battery production, and lowering EV purchase costs, the dealerships remain unconvinced. They are calling on President Biden to exercise patience, allowing time for advancements in battery technology, increased affordability of EVs, and the development of robust charging infrastructure, among other factors that could facilitate broader consumer adoption.
The dealerships’ stance underscores a nuanced perspective on the transition to electric vehicles, recognizing both the potential benefits and the practical obstacles that need to be overcome. The full list of dealerships endorsing this plea can be found on the dedicated website here.
Source: Automotive News (subscription required)
