Buttigieg Defends Biden's Electric Vehicle Agenda Despite Trump's Criticism

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg rejected claims by former President Trump that the Biden administration is struggling to implement its electric vehicle agenda, asserting that EV sales are increasing every year and defending the government's investment in charging station infrastructure.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has vigorously defended the Biden administration's electric vehicle (EV) agenda against criticism from former President Trump, who has alleged that the government is wasting billions of dollars on an unpopular mode of transportation.

Buttigieg appeared on "Face the Nation" with CBS anchor Margaret Brennen on Sunday, where he addressed Trump's claims that the Biden administration is spending vast sums of money subsidizing EVs that consumers do not want. Buttigieg dismissed these assertions, stating that EV sales are steadily increasing each year.

"He's not wrong on the purchasing," Brennen pointed out to Buttigieg, citing data indicating that only a small fraction of vehicles purchased in the United States are electric. "Of the 4 million vehicles purchased, 269,000 electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. Market. It's up like 2%."

Buttigieg remained resolute, reiterating that EV sales are on an upward trajectory. "Every single year more Americans buy EVs than the year before," he stated.

Brennen pressed Buttigieg further regarding the lack of progress in installing EV charging stations across the country. Citing data from the Federal Highway Administration, she noted that only a small number of charging stations have been built despite a $7.5 billion federal investment in 2021.

Buttigieg acknowledged the relatively slow pace of charging station construction but emphasized the complexity of the undertaking. He explained that constructing a charging station involves not only installing the equipment but also performing utility work and dealing with new federal investment categories.

"The president's goal is to have half a million chargers up by the end of this decade," Buttigieg stated. "So the very first handful of chargers are now already being physically built. Again, that's the absolute very, very beginning stages of the construction to come. The reason that we're investing federal dollars is to fill in some of the gaps in areas where it is not yet profitable for the private sector to do it."

Brennen interjected with a chuckle at Buttigieg's response, highlighting the small number of charging stations built to date in comparison to the ambitious goal of half a million by 2030. Buttigieg maintained his position, reiterating the administration's commitment to investing in charging infrastructure and expecting most charging to occur at home.

Despite the Biden administration's push for EVs, public interest in purchasing them remains relatively low. An April Gallup poll revealed that only 9% of Americans are "seriously considering" purchasing an electric vehicle.

Undeterred, the Biden administration has implemented stricter emission regulations with the aim of having 50% of all U.S. car sales be electric vehicles by the end of the decade. This goal has been met with criticism from some quarters, including Kevin O'Leary, a "Shark Tank" investor, who has warned that the new standards could bankrupt small businesses.

Nonetheless, the Biden administration remains optimistic about the future of electric vehicles and believes that they play a vital role in combating climate change and improving air quality.