Recently, over one hundred congressional Republicans called out the Biden administration to halt proposed fuel economy regulation that many have criticized as a de facto electric vehicle mandate. A group of 77 House representatives and 43 Senators from the GOP stood up to Biden, defending the interests of Americans who prefer a traditional gas-powered combustion engine.
The lawmakers, represented by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), wrote a letter to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) addressing its proposed corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. The Republicans suggested that it could impose unnecessary costs, negatively impact the business environment, infringe upon consumer preferences in the free market, and counteract U.S. national security interests.
“We strongly urge NHTSA to withdraw its misguided proposal, go back to the drawing board and reissue new CAFE standards that comply with the law, rather than ones that seek to pick winners and losers in the free market and remake our country’s economy,” the letter addressed to NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman, read.
“Nowhere in law did Congress authorize NHTSA to set fuel economy standards that effectively mandate EVs while at the same time force the internal combustion engine out of the market,” the letter continued. “In fact, federal statute expressly prohibits NHTSA from considering the fuel economy of EVs when determining maximum feasible CAFE standards for passenger cars and trucks,” it continued.
The letter points out that the EV agenda through this “de facto” mandate contradicts the interests of many American consumers who have no interest in purchasing an EV. The letter suggests that there is extremely low demand for EVs due to many reasons, such as concerns surrounding reliability and price points.
“NHTSA’s out-of-touch de facto EV mandate ignores the reality that most Americans still prefer the internal combustion engine vehicle, and the fact there is a lack of consumer demand for EVs,” the statement added.
“The low consumer demand for EVs can likely be attributed to the various unappealing aspects of these vehicles, including the typically higher sticker prices and insurance premiums, shorter average driving ranges, lower resale value, inadequate battery technologies for severe cold weather and lack of operational charging infrastructure, particularly for drivers in rural areas,” they said. “EVs are not a practical option for most Americans.”
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Rep. Walberg specifically called out the regulations in a statement to Fox News illustrating the impact the alleged “de facto” mandate would have on consumers.”NHTSA’s proposed CAFE standards are just the latest attempt by the Biden administration to implement a de facto EV mandate,” Walberg said. “These standards will limit consumer choice, increase costs and make us reliant on adversaries like China.”
The Michigan Republican then drew upon free market principles, claiming the choice of consumers should spur innovation rather than coercive government policy. “Instead of again pursuing unaffordable central planning, the Biden administration should let innovation and consumers lead us into the future,” Rep. Walberg added . “Whatever that future looks like, it should not be mandated by bureaucrats in Washington.”