Pushing a Rope on Electric Vehicle Demands
It is probably too soon to demand people to buy electric vehicles. Domestically, the technology is still evolving. Battery driven vehicles are still questionable although some of our Angry Bear commenters and writers have one.
June 2024, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares in a written statement declared:
The Gov: “Once again, Virginia is declaring independence. This time from a misguided electric vehicle mandate imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth. The idea that government should tell people what kind of car they can or can’t purchase is fundamentally wrong. Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses. The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”
Attorney General Jason Miyares adds:
The AG: “Today, I’ve issued an official Attorney General Opinion that confirms that Virginians are no longer legally bound to follow the emission standards of California. EV mandates like California’s are unworkable and out of touch with reality, and thankfully the law does not bind us to their regulations. California does not control which cars Virginians buy and any thoughts that automobile manufacturers should face millions of dollars in civil penalties rather than allowing our citizens to choose their own vehicles is completely absurd.”
First, Youngkin’s actions is not a sign of independence, however . . .
Mostly they are correct. The technology is not there as of yet. Neither is the habit of paying attention to what your actions do to the environment. There is another approach to this which would involve continuing with the standards of environmental pollution and also the damage done to the infrastructure as caused by the vehicle you drive.
For example, 60% of the vehicles purchased in AZ are pickups (according to one city manager) which are not work related (the latter being my own observation). There appears to be a serious size related issue on the streets today. Big person on the road is strangely related to how big the tires are, how high can I get, how fast can I go, how noisy I can be, etc. Some have had their emissions devices altered. Diesels can blow back exhaust if the driver wishes to do you. Gasoline engine exhaust stinks. The latter two are signs of a vehicle illegal alteration.
One thing clear is you can not push a rope in relation to forcing people to change if the technology is not available to support your actions. In this one instance, a reversal is necessary until such time as the technology more readily available. Other states as well as California may think differently based up what they know or circumstance.
“California’s emission standards are controversial not only because they were written for the Golden state, but also because they would dictate a requirement for electric car sales in states that implement them. Under a ruleset called Advanced Clean Cars II that would take effect in 2025, 35% of new car sales in any state with CARB standards must be electric in model year 2026, with the goal of 100% in 2035.”
I suspect people going to California may be buying different vehicles as their old vehicles may not meet California standards. At the same time, Trump nixing the tax credit for buying battery driven vehicles is a mistake. Greater usage of the present technology leads to improvements in the technology. We should be promoting technology that results in less atmospheric pollution.
Graph to the right shows oil producers from ~1970 onward. No Venezuela though. Surprising. Wikipedia has it as public domain info. as well as an explantion. Click on image to enlarge.
In the end, domestic auto manufacturers are late on the scene the same as they were with smaller vehicles and more efficient engines achieving higher miles per gallon from the seventies onward. In case you forgot, the Arab nations reduced oil supplies purposely. Gee, what a surprise on both occurrences.
“General Motors announces huge layoffs ahead of potential turmoil,” MSN.com
Lucid Air is Better Than Tesla
It is obvious that consumers do not take into account the impact on the environment of their purchases. Providing for the common welfare by imposing those costs in the form of regulations and taxes should be a duty of the government.
We should increase the tax on gasoline.
We should tax vehicles by weight. (I am aware that EVs could be taxed more than small ICEs, but the causal tie to road damage and particulate matter pollution is clear.)
Spending the proceeds on housing and mass transit solutions that would reduce the travel distance would also provide for common welfare.
@Arne,
You’ve got my vote.
there is no mandate, the fed doesnt have one, even states that will not register new vehicles sometime in the future is not mandate, just means you can buy used vehicles if you so desire. all of that is just a right-wing talking point that some have been pushing without any evidence of one