2023 Review: Biden’s EV push marred by steep price tags and unreliability

Auto dealers are ending 2023 sounding the alarm on slumping electric vehicle sales after the public has proven to be less than convinced of making such a purchase.

“People know what electric vehicles are. They know the pluses and the minuses — we’re past that,” Ohio car dealer Rhett Ricart said. “What really matters now is making a pitch on affordability.”

TESLA BUYER SAYS SHE ‘LOST $10,810’ AFTER BEING PRESSURED TO BUY PRICES WERE CUT

The steep price tag of EVs and their unreliability in comparison to gas-powered cars have become consumers’ primary concerns, according to a December report.

In November, Bloomberg New Energy and Finance research predicted that it will take three years before the prices of electric batteries are comparable to internal combustion engines.

Consumers have also cited concerns over the reliability of charging systems and EV batteries, in addition to how exterior and interior body parts fit together.

In June, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) wrote a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler outlining the risks of a rapid transition from gas-powered cars to EVs. His concerns included straining the power grid and wearing down the nation’s transportation infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, due to the hefty weight of EVs.

Many EV owners who took road trips or attempted to haul trailers in an effort to save money at the pump in 2023 found that low-emission vehicles can create other costly problems.

In January, Roman Mica, publisher of the Fast Lane Truck, shared how his Hummer electric truck ran into trouble with its four-wheel drive system.

“Things did not go according to plan,” Mica said while explaining that he had ventured to Moab, Utah, to try out his new 37-inch tires. “Once again, we have a Hummer with some issues.”

Mica admitted he became stressed when his efforts to fix a previous problem with the Hummer EV’s air suspension and ground clearance did not work. Mica said he had replaced the electric truck’s tires with larger ones, hoping that would help. However, when he attempted to start driving over the desert’s uneven terrain, the truck’s four-wheel drive system failed.

Another driver plugged in his brand-new electric Hummer at home and learned that recharging it would require several days to get a complete charge.

“Range anxiety” became a noted complaint for other drivers because they must be constantly mindful of their EV’s battery range.

Bill and Joann Muller, who drove 1,500 miles from Michigan to Florida in a Kia EV6, said they stopped 12 times to charge, with each time lasting between 20 minutes and 55 minutes and ultimately adding anywhere from four to 11 hours to their trip.

“We were constantly thinking about where to charge next,” Joann Muller explained. “It occupied our minds more than where to eat or spend the night.”

Biden has made electric vehicles and renewable energies a focus of his administration, but several proposals out of federal agencies in his administration, such as restrictions on gas stoves via emissions standards, have sparked outrage.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

To counteract the EV push, Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced the CARS Act over the summer, which would specifically bar the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing “the proposed rule titled ‘Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium Duty Vehicles,'” which was published in the Federal Register on May 5.

The proposed EPA rule would look to have 50% of all new vehicles sold for 2030 be electric vehicles through the agency’s proposed 2027-32 vehicle emissions targets. The rapid push for EVs has been criticized by Republicans and car dealers, who have claimed the targets are unrealistic and would harm consumer choice.