Trump attacks EVs with executive orders, but mostly signals further damages

President Trump has already attacked electric vehicles with executive orders on his first day, but he is mostly signaling upcoming attacks on EVs that would further damage the environment.

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

(e) to eliminate the “electric vehicle (EV) mandate” and promote true consumer choice, which is essential for economic growth and innovation, by removing regulatory barriers to motor vehicle access; by ensuring a level regulatory playing field for consumer choice in vehicles; by terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles; and by considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase by individuals, private businesses, and government entities alike by rendering other types of vehicles unaffordable;

There was never really a true “EV mandate” in the US other than a goal to achieve 50% EV sales by 2030.

But the rest of the order does point to Trump trying to again kill CARB state program, which he tried but failed to do in his first term.

The President’s order also mentions “considering the elimination” of EV subsidies. That’s something he campaigned on, but it sounds like it might wait now. He will also need backing from Congress for this to happen.

In the same order, President Trump also instructed all agencies to stop funding electric vehicle charging stations:

(a) All agencies shall immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through 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 funds for electric vehicle charging stations made available through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, and shall review their processes, policies, and programs for issuing grants, loans, contracts, or any other financial disbursements of such appropriated funds for consistency with the law and the policy outlined in section 2 of this order. 

Finally, he also instructed all agencies to identify regulations that would slow “development, or use of domestic energy resources”, but he added “with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources” strategically leaving out solar power.

Electrek’s Take

So far, not too much damage has been done. The “mandate” 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 the charging station funding out before going out.

Therefore, a lot of the actual impact will come from Congress, which is controlled by Trump’s GOP. He might get what he wants here, but there’s likely going to be a lot of negotiating going on.

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