What’s causing a slowdown in Tennessee’s electric vehicle push? An expert explains the challenges

TENNESSEE (WKRN) — Efforts to go electric on the road are hitting some speed bumps in Tennessee.

On Wednesday, Ford Motor announced they would be delaying production on an all-electric truck at a plant just outside of Memphis. Additionally, funding and a backlog of products have stalled plans for a Microvast battery plant in Clarksville.

Since 2017, over $16 billion has been invested into electric vehicle (EV) projects across Tennessee, according to state data . However, while interest in electric vehicles is growing, there remains a great unpredictability with EVs.

An expert with the Electrification Coalition told News 2 that while supply is high in Tennessee, demand often fluctuates.

“We need to think about where we’re going. This is a massive transition,” said Anne Blair, vice president of Policy with the Electrification Coalition. “Our two biggest systems– our energy system and our transportation system– are coming together for the first time. So there’s a lot of things to figure out.”

“I think the companies are really looking at what the opportunities are, where the demand is coming from, and recalibrating from earlier expectations,” Blair explained.

Blair highlighted the massive investments into EVs and how that shows confidence in the vehicles through the rest of this decade. She said EV sales are also trending up for most manufacturers.

However, there remains uncertainties and questions.

“One of the issues is there’s a lot of information coming out about EV technology, some of it accurate, and some of it not so accurate. So I just encourage folks to look for that validated information,” said Blair.

A common misconception with EVs, according to Blair, involves charging stations. She said improved infrastructure and more affordable charging options are current needs.

“I think there is a misunderstanding that without a massive influx of public charging stations, which are needed, (but) most of the charging happens at home already and will continue to happen at home,” Blair said.

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In Tennessee, the movement towards electric doesn’t appear to be hitting the brakes. In Blair’s words, “we’re not going back.”

“Tennessee, I think, is top four in EV manufacturing across the country,” she said. “Projections continue to be, I think, very bright for Tennessee in terms of that manufacturing boom.”

According to state data , Tennessee will have 200,000 EVs on the road by 2028.

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