Over one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the US come from transportation, the great majority of which comes from cars. The slowing transition to EVs in America means this problem will be solved more slowly as gas-powered cars dominate sales.
No. 1 EV Company –Still Tesla?
Nuclear Power –Rolls Royce
According to the EPA, “Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation account for about 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor of U.S. GHG emissions.” Auto manufacturers thought the pace of EV sales would happen quickly, and they invested tens of billions of dollars, gambling that EV adoption would rise sharply between now and 2030. The administration also set goals for similar levels of adoption, which they have had to revise.
How poorly has EV adoption been recently? Tesla’s sales in the US have slowed considerably. GM and Ford have sold so few EVs that they are fortunate to move only several thousand off lots each month. The two largest American car companies have pulled back their EV investments sharply.
100% Tariffs
The new 100% tariffs on EVs from China, along with stiff tariffs on solar components and batteries, will protect US manufacturers and their employees from Chinese products, which are built with the help of Chinese government subsidies. Elon Musk commented recently that if Chinese car companies could import large numbers of vehicles, it would wreck the US industry, potentially putting tens of thousands of people out of jobs.
However, tariffs announced by the Biden Administration could speed global warming. Politico reports Albert Park, chief economist at the Asian Development Bank, said, “If you’re thinking about the global transition to net zero, or just reducing carbon as fast as possible, then if some country is willing to subsidize the production of green goods — solar power, EVs — then the rest of the world should say thank you very much,”
Tension Between Green And Profits
Climatecrisis247 believes this political tension is driven by forces that, on the one hand, are meant to save US jobs and companies that face import challenges or, on the other hand, help the environment. The Chinese government has underwritten companies, including EV manufacturers, to allow them to expand. The administration decided to make an economically sound one to help America’s auto industry, for example, and its workers. At the same time, a surge in cheap EVs would help drive down fossil fuel emissions.
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