Some people love electric vehicles (EVs). They drive them relatively short distances to work, charge them overnight in their garages and never stop for gas. Others, due to cost, convenience and climate, prefer gasoline-powered vehicles.
Thankfully, Americans today still have that choice. But if the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest proposed rule on car emissions is finalized as written, they won’t for much longer.
The new rule would require 60 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. to be battery-powered electric by 2030 and 67 percent by 2032, compared to just 6 percent today. This would effectively eliminate the choice of gasoline-powered cars for American drivers and make the economy more dependent on China, a source of the minerals needed to create their batteries.
The public has only until July 5 to comment.
Congress is taking note. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill that would prevent the EPA from finalizing the rule, and other similar bills are planned. If these efforts fail, the new rule could have catastrophic effects on American consumers and the nation as a whole.
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For one thing, it will increase drivers’ costs. Gasoline-powered vehicles are more affordable than their battery-powered equivalents. The electric version of the base model of the Ford 150 pickup truck, the best-selling vehicle in America, comes with an up-charge of $26,000. Statistically speaking, you would have to own your electric F-150, gasoline-free, for more than two decades to make up for that added cost. But the average electric car’s battery won’t last you more than 12 years.
In addition, the cost of electricity is high in many states and is likely to rise further due to another EPA rule, brought out in May, which would require power plants to sequester 90% of their carbon emissions. This would raise the price of charging these vehicles, making them still less cost-competitive.
Another drawback to electric vehicles is the inconvenience. A big advantage of gasoline-powered engines is that gas stations are common and that filling up tanks takes five minutes or less. Electric vehicles have to be recharged every 200 to 300 miles, and recharging takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Some are concerned about running out of electricity if they can’t find charging stations or if they are stuck in backups caused by accidents or storms. Furthermore, people’s time is valuable. They don’t want to stop for 45 minutes, especially not families with small children.
And then there is the issue of climate. In some cold states, EVs are simply not practical. Relatively new batteries in gasoline-powered vehicles don’t die in cold weather and don’t cause the car to lose range. Electric vehicle batteries, in contrast, can cause cars to lose 20 percent to 40 percent of their range in cold weather. That is why only 510 EVs are registered in Wyoming and only 380 in North Dakota.
America has vast resources of oil and natural gas. America as a nation might not want to eliminate gasoline-powered vehicles for three additional reasons: energy independence, effects on the climate, and human rights concerns.
China produces almost 80 percent of global batteries and controls a substantial share of the minerals used to produce batteries. It’s unlikely that this production can be moved to the U.S. Russia’s cut-off of natural gas to Europe and OPEC’s 1970s oil embargo underscore the need to preserve energy independence and the gasoline-powered cars that use America’s resources.
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America’s air is continuously getting cleaner. But as for effects on global temperatures, it is not necessary or useful to ban gasoline-powered cars to lower global temperatures. Research by Dr. Kevin Dayaratna, chief statistician and senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, has shown that even completely eliminating all fossil fuels from the U.S. would result in less than 0.2 degrees Celsius in temperature mitigation by 2100.
Last but certainly not least, an electric vehicle mandate will result in an increase in mining by low-wage workers and children in countries that have no respect for the environment or human welfare. Mining for these minerals is energy-intensive, and the Chinese Communist Party has facilitated access to domestic and foreign minerals for battery production.
Lithium is mined in western China’s Qinghai Province, aided by government funding, and China purchases cobalt for electric batteries from Kisanfu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Through regulation, the Biden administration wants to put the U.S. on a glide path to California’s rule to eliminate sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles altogether by 2035. Just as many Americans enjoy driving electric vehicles, others prefer gasoline-powered cars. Their choice of cars should be preserved.
FAQs
That percentage will gradually increase year after year to 100% by 2035 — an effective ban on purely gas-powered vehicles. In addition to EVs, California's definition of zero-emission vehicles includes battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Will gas cars be worthless in 5 years? ›
It's safe to say, the reliance and acceptance of gas vehicles will remain for years to come. Purchasing a new vehicle powered by gasoline remains possible across all 50 states until 2035. This is according to USA Today in an article published just recently.
What will happen to gas cars after 2035? ›
Can I still drive my gasoline car after 2035? Yes. Even after 2035, gasoline cars can still be driven in California, registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and sold as a used car to a new owner.
Why do electric car owners return to gas? ›
Among the owners surveyed who are planning to switch back, 35% cited the lack of charging infrastructure, 34% said the costs were too high, 32% said planning long driving trips was too difficult, 24% said they could not currently charge at home, 21% said worrying about charging was too stressful and 13% said they did ...
Will electric cars take over gas cars? ›
While electric cars will not be replacing gas-powered vehicles in the near future, the process of internal combustion engines becoming obsolete has already begun according to Kiplinger.
Are electric cars really better for the environment? ›
EVs are much better for the climate than gas-powered cars.
It's not even close. Over its lifetime, the average new electric vehicle produces about half the greenhouse gas emissions of an equivalent vehicle burning gasoline or diesel.
Will there still be gas cars in 2050? ›
Given all the constraints, experts expect gas cars and trucks to be available until at least 2050, though a handful of states will phase them out as soon as 2035. To date, those states include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
What is the average lifespan of a gas vehicle? ›
With regular use, the average lifespan of a gas vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, and EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years.
Would gas still work after 20 years? ›
Gasoline has a limited shelf life just like fruit or other perishable foods you'd find at your local supermarket. It will only last for about six months—if kept in ideal conditions—or possibly up to a year if a fuel stabilizer is used, but nowhere close to the 20 years that The Last of Us would have demanded.
Will classic cars be worthless in the future? ›
Classic cars fluctuate in value, but they can appreciate over time rather than depreciate like a modern car does.
The policy won't take existing vehicles off the road, but automakers and car dealers will be restricted to selling electric vehicles and certain plug-in hybrids. "Our cars shouldn't make wildfires worse -- and create more days filled with smoky air," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
What year will we run out of gasoline? ›
In that relatively short space of time, though, we've consumed a massive amount and it continues unabated. So, if we continue at our current rate, it is estimated that all of our fossil fuels will be depleted by 2060.
What will happen to gas stations when electric cars take over? ›
“Gas stations will exist, but will have a different kind of model,” said Amaiya Khardenavis, a Wood Mackenzie analyst. And many of today's gas stations will evolve into EV charging stations. “Gas stations are prime real estate locations, so they are excellent candidates for installing charging infrastructure,” he said.
What would happen if everyone owned electric cars? ›
Based on 2019 data, the US would need to produce 20-50% more electricity in a year if all cars were EVs. According to data from the Department of Energy (DOE), the cost of powering EVs is approximately 35-75% cheaper than the cost for gas-powered vehicles per mile.
Will electric cars become cheaper than gas? ›
EV production will reach cost parity with ICE-equipped cars in as little three years, and the latest forecast from Gartner predicts that EVs will actually be cheaper to make than gas-powered cars by 2027.
Will gasoline cars ever go away? ›
When it comes to emissions, California is a leader: 11 other states that link their standards to California's have also announced plans to prohibit the sale of new ICE (internal combustion engine) automobiles after 2035, and more could follow.
What 8 states plan to ban gas cars? ›
Don't miss. And California's not alone in this initiative. So far, eight other states — including Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington — have followed suit, aiming to phase out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
Will there be gas cars in 2050? ›
By 2050, there will be about 3 billion light-duty vehicles on the road worldwide, up from 1 billion now. At least half of them will be powered by internal combustion engines (ICE), using petroleum-based fuels.
Why are electric cars not the future? ›
While bigger batteries allow drivers to travel farther between charges, they also make the cars heavier, more dangerous, more expensive, and worse for the planet. The "range anxiety" that has resulted in massive batteries is another reason EVs don't work as a replacement for gas cars.
