Electric vehicle policy drives up federal lobbying spending in first half of 2024

Intense debate around electric vehicles, commonly known as EVs, has spurred a flood of lobbying spending.

Propelled in part by the Biden administration’s push for more widespread EV adoption, the automotive sector — encompassing both EV manufacturers and traditional automakers — invested about $44.8 million in federal lobbying during the first half of 2024. The oil and gas industry spent another $72 million on federal lobbying in the first half of 2024, putting the sector on track to surpass its 2023 total of $137 million, even when adjusted for inflation.

While oil and gas are used in the development of EVs, more widespread adoption of electric vehicles would decrease reliance on gasoline.

The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers , a trade association representing hundreds of fuel refining and petrochemical companies that is known as AFPM, emerged as the top spender within the oil and gas sector. AFPM led the industry with $8.1 million in federal lobbying expenditures, marking the first time it outspent each of the top individual companies in the sector. This represents a shift from prior years when individual oil and gas giants like Koch Industries, Occidental Petroleum and ConocoPhillips traditionally dominated the sector’s federal lobbying spending.

The trade group’s lobbying efforts are largely focused on countering the expansion of electric vehicles and new vehicle emissions standards proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

In March 2024, the EPA unveiled stricter emissions regulations for vehicles manufactured between 2027 and 2032. The new rules, which are expected to increase EV production, are a key part of the Biden administration’s efforts to slash U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

In response, AFPM has filed a lawsuit opposing the new emissions standards and poured millions into an extensive lobbying and ad campaign targeting battleground states, criticizing the Biden administration’s policies as a “gas car ban.” The trade association contends that these regulations will reduce consumer choice, damage the economy and heighten U.S. reliance on China for essential EV components.

After Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, AFPM launched a $3 million swing state ad buy targeting Harris, arguing that “there may be someone new in the driver’s seat, but the destination is the same: a ban on most new gas cars.

Harris’ campaign has sent mixed signals about her own position on an EV mandate, Axios reported .

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As a U.S. senator, Harris sponsored the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act and her 2020 presidential campaign pledged to implement an “accelerated model” of the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act which would require that “50% of all new passenger vehicles sold be zero-emission by 2030.”

At the same time, Harris’ campaign noted, in a “fact-check” email to Axios, that she “does not support an electric vehicle mandate.”

Former President Donald Trump, who rolled back multiple environmental regulations while in office, has also attacked Harris for her stances on EVs, even as his own position on the issue has shifted . Echoing the AFPM, the former president claims that vehicle emissions standards are detrimental to consumer choice, and he falsely characterized the EPA’s new rules as an “ EV mandate .” But Trump also called for a limited adoption of EVs after receiving an endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The lobbying boom spurred by EV policy debates extends far beyond AFPM.

Multiple oil and gas companies from Chevron Corporation to Koch Industries have also lobbied for the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act , which would bar the EPA from allowing states to set vehicle emission standards that limit the sale of new gas-powered cars. The bill is an apparent response to California’s plan to phase out new gas vehicle sales by 2035.

Environmental groups have also been actively advocating for the EPA’s new vehicle emissions standards.

In the first half of 2024, environmental groups spent $16.3 million on federal lobbying while the renewable energy sector contributed another $30.1 million. These sectors’ lobbying spending represents a sharp increase from prior years, but only totals about two-thirds of the oil and gas industry’s expenditures.

Auto industry advocacy

The automotive industry has also ramped up lobbying efforts. Automakers and their trade associations collectively spent $44.8 million on federal lobbying in the first half of 2024.

General Motors , a leading U.S. automaker and the automotive industry’s top lobbying spender last year, continued to dominate the industry’s lobbying spending in the first half of this year.

In the first half of 2024, General Motors spent $7.6 million on federal lobbying, a slight dip from last year. The company’s lobbying efforts focused on issues including tax incentives for EVs and charging infrastructure.

Toyota , another top automaker and lobbying spender, poured over $3.2 million into lobbying in the first half of 2024 on issues including vehicle emissions standards and EVs.

EVs are one of the fastest-growing car sale categories in the U.S. Despite the perceived threat of EVs to traditional automakers, some auto manufacturers have been taking steps to become more competitive within the electric vehicle space.

Toyota invested $13.9 billion into its first American battery factory in 2023 and currently sells one fully-electric vehicle . But Toyota Motor Corporation’s CEO, Aiko Toyoda, has publicly expressed skepticism about the feasibility of widespread EV use, noting that Toyota sells cars to people in places without electricity.

A joint venture between LG and General Motors, Ultimum Cells , has three battery factories across the U.S.

With significant investments on the line, policy fights around EVs are likely to grow more heated as 2024 wears on.

Money-in-politics reporter Jimmy Cloutier contributed to this report.

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About The Author

Anna is OpenSecrets’ Editorial and Investigations Manager. She is also responsible for OpenSecrets’ dark money research and researches foreign influence as a part of Foreign Lobby Watch. Anna holds degrees in political science and psychology from North Carolina State University and a J.D. from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.