Resurfaced footage shows Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) criticizing the Democratic-led agenda to pass regulations encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles. Boebert grilled an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official, highlighting several significant issues with battery-powered cars that make the novel technology impractical and unaffordable for many American consumers already struggling with challenging economic circumstances.
One of the biggest pain points surrounding EVs is their price, which is substantially more expensive than traditional gas-powered vehicles equipped with an internal combustion engine. Speaking to Joe Goffman, who leads the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, the Republican congresswoman discussed the cost of EVs and why it is misguided to coerce American consumers into buying them.
“What is the average price of a new combustion engine vehicle compared to the average price of a new electric vehicle?” Boebert asked, to which Goffman responded that he didn’t know the exact figure off the top of his head. “So the average price of a traditional internal combustion engine is was $45,600 while the average price of an electric vehicle was $61,800 and if these unfavorable rules are finalized, your own estimates that that I’ve seen suggest 67% of all new cars sold in the US will need to be fully electric by 2032 now,” she continued.
The representative of Colorado further pressed Goffman on the economics of EVs, asking, “How much did the average price of an electric vehicle increase by last year?” Once again, the EPA official was unaware, so Boebert informed him, “It’s 22%. From May of 2022 to May of 2023 it’s increased 22 22% so it’s not going down in price with these electric vehicles. We’re seeing an increase and and by your own estimates, that the technological costs of this proposal could reach $280 billion that’s increasing manufacturing costs by $1,200 per vehicle.”
Boebert further grilled the officials on the impracticality of EV performance in cold weather, a relevant question for a state like Colorado. The representative highlighted that if gas-powered vehicles are removed from the market due to regulation, consumers in cold climates could be forced to endure the high costs of EV maintenance, such as replacing a battery.
“Mr. Goffman, are you aware that in in temperatures under 20 degrees Fahrenheit, electric vehicles lose nearly half of their charge and their batteries…So in Colorado, where we rely on four wheel drive vehicles to get around in winter, many of these vehicles will be regulated out of existence under these proposed rules, how much does an electric vehicle battery costs to replace?” she asked, to which Goffman didn’t have the answer.
She continued grilling Goffman, “You’re regulating an industry out of existence here, and we’re seeing that it’s less reliable in Colorado, it’s it’s very common to have temperatures under 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and these, these batteries will not will lose some of their charge. Now I have between 5020 $1,000 to replace an electric vehicles batteries and prolonged exposure to temperatures under 20 degrees can also compromise the electric vehicles battery performance as much as 41% now how do you recommend that hard working families who are struggling to get by absorb these additional costs associated with electric vehicles?”
Watch the Senate hearing below:
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