Protesters band together against Delaware and New Jersey electric vehicle mandate

Delaware News Journal

• The rally was held in Trenton. New Jersey has passed similar legislation to Delaware’s Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which calls for an increase in the sales of electric vehicles between 2026 and 2032.
• Concerns have already been raised about the all-too gradual increase in consumer demand for electric vehicles, the lack of adequate charging infrastructure and the implications on local economies.

Delaware refinery workers and union members are part of a growing movement to repeal the electric vehicle mandate and protect jobs in the oil and manufacturing sectors.

They were among industry stakeholders participating in a June 18 rally in New Jersey protesting efforts by environmental groups and government officials to reshape the future of transportation in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Concerns have already been raised about the all-too-gradual increase in consumer demand for electric vehicles, the lack of adequate charging infrastructure and the implications on local economies.

The rally was held in Trenton. New Jersey recently approved similar regulations to Delaware’s Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which calls for an increase in the sales of electric vehicles between 2026 and 2032.

What is the mandate in question?

Delaware adopted the Advanced Clean Cars II Act in November 2023, aiming to curb emissions in Delaware’s transportation sector, which contributes to about one-third of the state’s overall emissions.

Starting in model year 2027 (Jan. 2, 2026), 43% of new light- and medium-duty cars and trucks sent to Delaware by car manufacturers must be zero-emission vehicles. This percentage will gradually increase to 82% by 2032.

BACKGROUND:Your questions, answered: What you need to know about state's new electric vehicle mandate

Sixteen other states have adopted similar legislation, including New Jersey, which recently became the epicenter for the counter-movement opposing the mandates.

The mandate is modeled after California’s program and would require an increasing percentage of electric or hybrid electric cars to be sold in Delaware between model years 2027 and 2032.

In March, the federal Environmental Protection Agency finalized similar rules to limit tailpipe emissions from light- and medium-duty vehicles so that by 2032, over 50% of new cars sold in the U.S. would be zero-emission.

'Save our jobs. Don't ban our cars'

Energy workers and industry advocates joined government officials in Trenton, pushing for elected officials to roll back electric vehicle regulations, claiming that they will threaten jobs and the gasoline and auto industries at large.

Protesters gathered outside the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton with signs reading “Save Our Jobs, Don’t Ban Our Cars.”

The rally included many New Jersey politicians, unions from the region including employees from the Delaware City Refinery and AFL-CIO Local 74 and U.S. Steelworkers Local 4/898 from Delaware and New Castle County Councilman Tim Sheldon.

“This hurts workforce development,” Sheldon said. “Why can’t I buy the car I want to buy? ... That’s what America is about.”

Union representatives in the manufacturing and oil and gas sectors expressed a wide range of concerns regarding the mandate including the viability of the region’s electric grid, the lack of charging infrastructure, the long-term economic consequences and that the new mandate would come at the cost of jobs.

The movement is backed by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, a nationwide trade association representing the oil refining industry, which launched a seven-figure issue campaign across the country to push back against the Biden administration’s directives.

Backlash against EV mandates

While environmentalists have hailed the mandate for its intent on reaching local and national emission reduction goals, apprehension from car manufacturers and government officials has remained steadfast.

In January, members of the Delaware GOP filed a complaint against the electric vehicle mandate in Sussex County Superior Court, claiming that Delaware’s environmental agency violated administrative procedures and that the mandate could potentially harm small businesses and individuals.

Delaware’s car dealerships have stated that the demand for electric vehicles is simply not up to par with the surplus of supply that dealerships are getting – and with more shipments of EVs expected to be delivered once the mandate officially starts. Dealerships worry that Delaware customers will travel to other states without the regulations to get the cars they’re looking for.

Incentives like tax cuts and rebates for purchasers of electric vehicles are available on a state and national level, but opponents still worry about the affordability of electric vehicles. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price of a new electric vehicle as of April 2024 was $55,242, versus the average price of a new gas-powered vehicle of $44,989. While there is money to be saved on fuel when driving electric vehicles and prices have dropped over the past few years, the price tag is still daunting for many consumers, and many financial incentives are only applicable on vehicles below $50,000.

Delaware, like most states in the area, will also need to boost its charging infrastructure if the intention is to have more electric cars on the roads. As of November 2023, Delaware has 25 Fast Charger locations (with 97 total ports) and 108 Level 2 charging locations (229 ports).

As a part of the Biden administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula program, Delaware received $15 million over a five-year period to supplement five of the state’s major roadways with charging stations: I-95, I-295, Route 1, Route 13 and Route 113. The funding has not yet been deployed to build new stations.

Molly McVety covers community and environmental issues around Delaware. Contact her at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.

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