Biden Administration to slow down EV shift to appease automakers

Auto worker's unions also reportedly favored the move.
By Chance Townsend  on 
Old white man in blue suit speaks into a microphone. In the background is a display lined with electric vehicles in red, white, and blue variations
Credit: Mandel Ngan via Getty

The Biden Administration is reportedly giving legislative breathing room to auto manufacturers required to rapidly increase electric vehicle production within the next few years. First reported by sources speaking to The New York Times, this shift in drastic climate change action is meant to appease automakers who say they need more time to meet the aims of the White House, as well as unions, who favor a slower EV ramp-up as well.

The new plan, which won't be finalized until "early Spring," will give car manufacturers through 2030 to ramp up sales of its EVs instead of demanding that this happen much sooner. The Biden Administration's overall strategy aims to cut down on tail-pipe emissions by pushing Americans toward EVs. The original goal was to have this done before 2030 in order to rapidly cut down on carbon emissions from the country's largest source of greenhouse gases: gasoline cars.

Auto manufacturers need the time, the NYT reported, not only to build EVs and cut their costs but to establish charging station infrastructure across the US. Statistics from the Department of Energy say that there are just over 160,000 charging stations across the US, with only 88 percent of them being public use stations.

Additionally, with President Biden up for re-election this year, the policy change also serves the purpose of assuaging labor unions who reportedly feel that the swift into EVs may cost workers their manufacturing jobs. The labor unions, the report says, also need this slowdown in order for their unionization efforts to keep pace with the growth of the sector as more EV plants get built in union-unfriendly states.

Union support for Biden is seen as crucial for his reelection campaign, and to this end the president went as far as to appear at an auto workers strike last year.

President Biden's ambitious stated goal is to eliminate carbon emissions from the US by 2050, but with this move, it seems like he's not in a rush to do so.

Headshot of a Black man
Chance Townsend
Assistant Editor, General Assignments

Currently residing in Austin, Texas, Chance Townsend is an Assistant Editor at Mashable. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas with the bulk of his research primarily focused on online communities, dating apps, and professional wrestling.

In his free time, he's an avid cook, loves to sleep, and "enjoys" watching the Lions and Pistons break his heart on a weekly basis. If you have any stories or recipes that might be of interest you can reach him by email at [email protected].


Recommended For You
KIA's concept EV fleet revealed at CES 2024 is wildly modular
A rendering of a small white van pickup boxes from a larger white van while overlooked by a white man in a blue coat

Elon Musk confirms: Tesla to build new, cheap model in 2025
Tesla upcoming model



Porsche refreshes the Taycan with big range and power upgrade
Porsche Taycan 2025

More in Tech
The internet is freaking out about reheated rice. Should you be worried?
A man reheating rice

CERN's Large Hadron Collider is looking for dark photons. But... why?
one of the LHC particle accelerator's tunnels


How Oppenheimer built an atomic bomb before the Nazis
An illustration of Oppenheimer


Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 8
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 9
a phone displaying Wordle

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 9
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 8
a phone displaying Wordle

Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached
Cartoon graphic of a person on a dating app.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!