U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked a key executive order from his predecessor, Joe Biden, which aimed for electric vehicles (EVs) to account for 50% of new car sales in the U.S. by 2030. In addition, Trump has halted the distribution of unspent government funds for EV charging infrastructure and signaled potential changes to policies favoring electric vehicles.
Key Points:
- Revocation of EV Target: Trump annulled Biden’s 2021 order to have half of all new vehicles sold be electric by 2030, a target that, though non-binding, had received support from automakers.
- Freezing Funds: Trump’s order freezes $5 billion allocated for vehicle charging stations that remains unspent.
- State Waivers: Trump called for the end of state waivers that allow states like California to impose stricter zero-emission vehicle rules, including the plan to ban gasoline-only vehicle sales by 2035.
- Reconsidering Emissions Rules: The Trump administration plans to review emissions regulations, which require automakers to sell between 30% to 56% EVs by 2032, in line with federal and state emissions targets.
- Potential Elimination of EV Tax Credits: Trump’s order suggests that his administration could eliminate EV tax credits and other subsidies for electric vehicles, arguing that these policies distort the market.
- Focus on Oil and Gas: Trump reiterated his support for increasing U.S. oil production while seeking to reverse Biden’s clean energy initiatives, including subsidies for solar, wind, and hydrogen production.
