EVs On Ice

This Week's Trend In Brief:

• When the arctic blast swept across the U.S. last week, electric vehicle owners faced a cold reality: frigid weather can cut EV range, slow battery charging, or even stop vehicles in their tracks entirely. 
   

• Despite the harsh reality facing the drivers as charging stations turned “into car graveyards,” members of the media and advocates dismissed the concerns and instead accused opponents of “pouncing” on EVs as a way to oppose vital efforts to address the climate crisis.
   

• Even as consumers are awakening to the drawbacks EVs may have, the Biden Administration is advancing an EV rule critics argue would be a mandate forcing rapid EV adoption and limiting consumer choices.
   

• Regardless of whether the Biden “tailpipe” rule is finalized and has the impact opponents claim it will, states across the country are already putting an end date on gas-powered cars, and by the time consumers (and voters) realize the impacts and restrictions, their ire may turn to manufacturers rather than policymakers (who may not even remain in office by then).
   

• To address growing scrutiny and concerns, EV industry advocates need to ensure honest and accurate discussions happen now before policymakers limit consumer choices in ways that leave drivers stranded, because consumers will eventually see the reality.

Digging Deeper:

 
When the arctic blast swept across the U.S. last week, electric vehicle owners faced a cold reality: frigid weather can cut EV range, slow battery charging, or even stop vehicles in their tracks entirely. In Chicago, electric vehicle charging stations became “scenes of desperation” as drivers with dying batteries flocked to the stations only to find long waits. Even after charging their vehicles, the drivers found their batteries would die soon after, turning the charging stations into parking lots. While owners of EVs across the country came to terms with the reality of the unfortunate situation, members of the media and EV advocates dismissed their concerns. Instead, they accused opponents of using EVs to oppose efforts to address the climate crisis.
 
Despite the harsh reality facing the drivers as charging stations turned “into car graveyards,” members of the media and advocates dismissed the concerns and instead accused opponents of “pouncing” on EVs as a way to oppose vital efforts to address the climate crisis. Members of the media, for example, argued Republicans “quickly seized on the latest negative headlines to attack Biden’s support for” EVs. The Biden Administration and EV advocates for years have argued that “President Joe Biden’s aggressive support for EVs will be an economic and environmental boon,” but the recent cold weather tribulations show some of the difficulties still facing the technology. Nor are EV challenges limited to cold weather. Summer time electric grid challenges have led to governments – including EV-mandate driving California – urging EV owners to leave their vehicles unplugged. While West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey argued the recent cold weather difficulties “and so many other negative experiences” show “EVs are simply not ready for prime time,” the media contended EVs “work fine” in the cold even as drivers remained stranded, arguing the difficulties are “part of the learning curve of adapting to EVs.”
 
Even as consumers are awakening to the drawbacks EVs may have, the Biden Administration is advancing an EV rule critics argue would be a mandate forcing rapid EV adoption and limiting consumer choices. On January 18, the U.S. EPA sent its proposed “tailpipe” rule to the White House for review that is designed to boost EV sales. Environmental groups have hailed as essential to curbing pollution. Republicans like Morrisey, however, argue the rule would effectively mandate electric vehicles, and Morrisey urged Biden in a letter to reconsider the rule, arguing, “Americans must be able to trust that their cars and trucks are truly reliable and ready for us when needed.” House Republicans even passed legislation to block the what they called “the plan a back-door mandate for electric vehicles,” though proponents deny the rule is a mandate, and fact-checkers in the media have made similar assessments.
 
Regardless of whether the Biden “tailpipe” rule is finalized and has the impact opponents claim it will, states across the country are already putting an end date on gas-powered cars. Last summer, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced his state would ban car dealers in New Jersey from selling fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035, following California’s similar initiative, even as his administration insists it is protecting New Jersey consumers’ choice in vehicles. New Jersey is one of the seventeen states that have pledged to follow California’s lead on climate policy, and at least nine states have already committed to banning the sale of gas-powered cars. By the time consumers (and voters) realize the impacts and restrictions, their ire may turn to manufacturers rather than policymakers (who may not even remain in office by then).
 
To address growing scrutiny and concerns, EV industry advocates need to ensure honest and accurate discussions happen now before policymakers limit consumer choices in ways that leave drivers stranded. As EV advocates continue to laud the technology as integral to climate policy, industry must be prepared to address consumers’ concerns because consumers will eventually see the reality. Public affairs professionals and the companies they represent must stay ahead of the curve to ensure they don’t get caught in heated debates between Republicans and Democrats. Instead, they must safeguard trust by proactively addressing consumers’ concerns while keeping the facts at the forefront of discussions.

Trends in Energy is your weekly look at key trends affecting the energy industry, brought to you by the competitive intelligence experts at Delve. As the political and regulatory landscape continues to shift, reach out to learn how our insights can help you navigate these challenges.