On CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended the Biden administration’s disappointing record on building new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Despite $7.5 billion allocated two years ago, the administration has managed to construct only eight stations.
Host Margaret Brennan highlighted this stark contrast, emphasizing the gap between the administration's ambitious goals and actual achievements. Buttigieg reiterated President Biden's plan to build 500,000 chargers by the end of the decade, touting the construction of the first handful as an accomplishment.
While eight stations are better than none, this progress is meager compared to the lofty target of 500,000.
The administration, which has promoted the "Build Back Better" agenda, is struggling with the slow pace of construction. This sluggish start is a symptom of the challenges inherent in imposing radical changes in vehicular transportation through government mandates.
Buttigieg maintains that the "EV revolution will happen with or without us," but the current state is less a revolution and more a modest shift among affluent consumers.
There are signs of slowing demand for EVs, with companies like Ford and Tesla facing challenges in production and profitability. A significant barrier to widespread adoption is range anxiety—the fear of inadequate charging infrastructure.
The slow rollout of EV charging stations is hindered by regulatory complexities and contracting requirements. Politico reported that these bureaucratic hurdles are significant obstacles, with design, engineering, installation, and utility upgrades potentially delaying station completion for years. Existing charging infrastructure is also plagued by reliability issues, further exacerbating range anxiety.
In contrast, gas stations, which proliferated without government subsidies, offer a level of convenience and reliability that EV chargers currently lack. The Biden administration's push to accelerate the EV transition faces resistance from consumers and infrastructure challenges, making Secretary Buttigieg's job of explaining away these shortcomings a persistent one.
For more information, you can read the original article here.
Comments