A popular independent newsletter questioned US President Joe Biden’s plan to add more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the United States.
As part of the Biden administration’s priorities in terms of the country’s transportation infrastructure, US President Joe Biden is pushing for more EV charging stations.
On November 17, the Lundberg Letter released a new edition, criticizing Biden’s advocacy of much wider EV charger coverage in gas stations, calling it an “emerging boondoggle.”
The report stated that “Gasoline retailers are being told by experts that they must install electric vehicle chargers to survive the ‘energy transition’ and cash in on lucrative subsidies. This report finds some problems with this panacea including massive costs, limited demand, government competition, and meager margins.”
“On top of all that, most of the promised soon-to-be e-car customers will fill ‘er up at home, not at service stations,” it added.
The Biden administration has already pursued several policies, aiming to expand the sales of EVs which include spending to increase the number of EV chargers across U.S. gas stations.
In 2021, the administration passed an infrastructure bill that made $7.5 billion available for a nationwide EV charging network. It also unlocked $900 million in Sept. 2022 after the Biden administration approved 35 states’ EV charging network proposals.
Moreover, the U.S. Postal Service has reportedly received $3 billion dollars for an EV fleet and associated charging infrastructure.
“While Republicans are not against the Postal Service acquiring electric vehicles, we are against mandates that ignore the business needs and the financial situation of the Postal Service,” said Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) during an April 2022 meeting on the Postal Service’s fleet.
“Republicans believe the Postal Service must be self-funded. This means the Postal Service should pay for its own capital needs, like purchasing new vehicles,” Comer added.
The newsletter also noted that according to the Energy Information Administration, EV charging stations have proliferated in the past several years, jumping from 31,738 in 2020 to 50,054 in 2021. It also estimated the vast majority of today’s EV customers charge their vehicles at home or at free public stations.
“it will take astronomic growth in the e-car population to justify even the existing stable of e-car stations, much less the massive growth planned in coming years,” the letter explained.
