Why Are Electric Cars Pushed Politically? (7 Reasons)

Electric cars are being pushed because they’re more eco-friendly than gas cars. The Clean Air Act has led auto manufacturers to create better options for drivers.

And as a result, the cleaner and more efficient engines have helped to reduce carbon emissions.

Check also: 53 electric cars available in the U.S.

Gas Prices are High

Gas prices are high everywhere. Some of this has to do with where we get gas. However, it is something that many people are straining financially to afford.

Pete Buttigieg is the Department of Transportation Secretary in the United States. He has pointed out repeatedly that the gas prices are not set by the U.S. government.

Since the government cannot do anything to affect gas prices, Buttigieg has suggested buying electric cars.

There are two options that can result in saving on gas prices.

A hybrid car offers an internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor that stores energy into the battery. The hybrid can achieve better fuel economy in comparison to gas cars.

A fully electric car only uses an electric motor. Charging will need to take place in order to ensure that there’s enough energy to go a specific distance. The average electric car can travel approximately 200 miles on a single charge.

With gas prices being higher, electric cars offer an economic solution. Those with electric cars don’t need to stop at the gas station. It doesn’t worry them when gas prices are high. And those with hybrid options can choose to fill up if they don’t want to depend solely on the battery option.

As more people complain about gas prices, electric cars are pushed as a solution. Then, if gas prices do continue to soar, the government doesn’t get as many complaints.

It’s also why more politicians are focusing on pushing electric cars over trying to drive gas prices down. They feel that it is an easier battle to fight.

They’re Eco-Friendly

Depending on the model, electric vehicles are extremely eco-friendly. They can help the environment in a number of ways.

They Reduce the Dependency on Fossil Fuels

The gas we use in our gas-powered vehicles comes from crude oil and petroleum liquids.

The crude oil and petroleum may be produced in the U.S. or imported from other countries. From there, it is refined into the gasoline that we use at the gas pumps.

The drilling can be catastrophic to the environment. And when there’s more drilling, it can lead to contamination into the waterways and into the ecosystem. It can damage plant and animal life.

Much of the drilling in the U.S. has been stopped because of environmental concerns. Additionally, refineries have been closed because of the air pollution that they create.

What this means is that as we continue to drive gas-powered vehicles, we have to figure out where we are going to get the gas. If we’re not drilling for crude oil, processing petroleum, or refining the gas, we have to turn to other countries.

OPEC isn’t exactly the easiest to deal with. And relations with the U.S. have been complicated. They don’t care how much fuel we need. And they’ll set whatever price they can get away with to supply us with gas.

Whenever a government has to depend on another government, it can lead to political deals being made – and those deals may get us the fossil fuels but may require us to give something else up.

Many politicians agree that it’s better to eliminate the dependence on other countries.

While we can choose to be energy independent, it still means having to drill for crude oil and operate refineries.

The better solution altogether is to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. And that’s why electric vehicles are being pushed by the government. When gas isn’t needed to fuel the vehicles, it doesn’t matter if we’re not operating refineries or drilling for oil.

The Electric Grid Is the Future

The electric grid still depends on fossil fuels, but not as heavily. The fact that we have to charge electric vehicles is a small price to pay.

The cost to charge an EV isn’t as much as many believe. You can choose to charge locally or have a charger installed at your home. When you do have to pay for charging, it is less than fuel. And it doesn’t have the same negative impact on the environment.

Even when electric vehicles have to depend on the electric grid, they are still beneficial. This is because there are many homes and public charging stations that use alternative fuel sources.

Solar panels and wind turbines can be used to create the energy needed to charge electric vehicles. It means that plugging in a vehicle as opposed to gassing one up reduces the dependence on fossil fuels.

And when a vehicle is charged will determine how it affects the environment. It’s why you hear many politicians to say to charge later in the day when the solar panels are getting maximum sun and wind turbines are spinning due to stronger winds.

They Eliminate Air Pollution

Air pollution is detrimental for a number of reasons. It affects human health. It is also damaging to the planet.

There are a few ways air pollution happens:

• Burning fossil fuels
• Transportation
• Wildfires
• Industrial emissions

While some things cannot be helped, air pollution from vehicles can be easily addressed. It cleans up the air and allows people to reap the benefits of EVs in other ways.

Some cities have higher air pollution than others. Much of the pollution in the larger cities is because of so many cars on the road. The exhaust of a gas-powered car is responsible for releasing a significant amount of gas. These gas particles remain suspended in the air.

Politicians want to improve the quality of living. To do that, they must reduce air pollution. And a way to do that is to push the benefit of electric cars.

Many states are passing clean car standards to reduce the amount of pollution created in the air. This is measured with emissions readings.

Low-emission vehicle (LEV) standards set a limit for the amount of tailpipe pollution. If you’ve looked at an electric vehicle closely, there is no tailpipe.

While electric cars are not zero emission, they do not emit CO2 when they are on the roads. The only emissions are minuscule in comparison to those that use gas and diesel.

It’s a Focus of the Biden Administration

The Biden administration has focused heavily on ways to address climate change. It has been one of the top issues within Joe Biden’s platform.

Gas-powered vehicles have been identified as the single largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States. They are responsible for producing more than 25% of the total emissions within the country.

Knowing that gas-powered vehicles are responsible for so much of the greenhouse gas, it seems like the only responsible thing is to reduce the number of gas-powered vehicles on the road.

Being socially responsible is important for many. So, it makes sense that politicians focus on that as well. After all, within a democracy, politicians have a responsibility to listen to the people.

A way to impact climate change is to shift away from fossil-fueled combustion engines.

Many have challenged that there’s no way to address climate change without first addressing gas-powered vehicles.

Before electric vehicles were on the market, there were other ways that politicians sought to address the greenhouse gases. They talked about walking and riding bikes to work. They spoke about carpooling. And they talked about using mass transit.

Technology has improved, so there are now electric vehicles. It makes it possible for people to get to where they want to go without walking or relying on others.

A Competitive Industry

The push for electric vehicles isn’t just for the environment. It allows the auto manufacturing industry to be competitive.

• America produces Ford and Chevy.
• Europe produces VW, BMW, and others.
• And Asia is responsible for Honda, Toyota, and more.

Politicians are looking to make sure that the U.S. is as competitive as possible – and more car sales can lead to more taxes to pay for other government initiatives.

Europe has even gone as far as proposing a ban on gas-powered car sales by 2035. Will the US follow suit? There’s no way to tell right now.

However, it is possible.

Before the U.S. can even consider a ban, there has to be a greater push for electric vehicles. More people have to “buy into” the idea that EV is better for the environment and for innovation.

Electric Vehicles Have Come a Long Way

Electric vehicles have come a long way. So, when politicians push electric vehicles, it’s not as if they are pushing an inferior product on people.

Electric vehicles offer many benefits:

• No fuel is required
• They are eco-friendly
• They require less maintenance
• They perform better

Once people get over the sticker shock of an EV, they can start to look at the benefits. Many people find that owning an electric vehicle pays for itself over the life of the vehicle. They save on fuel, oil changes, and much more.

Inflation has been on the rise over the past several years. There’s no telling whether the prices will ever come down to the levels people are used to. As such, politicians have to help their citizens look at the reality – and prepare for the future.

More politicians drive electric vehicles. And President Biden has even driven the Ford Lightning EV truck. It’s a way to show people just how powerful EVs have become.

Final Thoughts

Electric cars are being pushed heavily by the Biden administration. It is a way to ensure that more people buy electric cars and reduce the greenhouse gases that plague the country.

Since there is a notable push, the government is offering incentives. On the federal level, there are rebates that people can get. When you file your taxes, you can actually get tax rebates to reduce your tax penalties and even get cash back.

There are other benefits that vary by state. If you live in a state where there are state taxes, you may find that there are state-level tax rebates.

State incentives can include:

• Point-of-sale rebates
• Tax rebates
• Savings on charging stations
• Savings on electric bills

By exploring the municipal, state, and federal incentives, it’s easy to see that there is a visible push to buy electric vehicles. If it’s within your budget, it can be quite lucrative to buy electric – which is what the government wants you to do anyway.

Sources

How Do Hybrid Electric Cars Work?

A Push for Electric Vehicles

Where Our Gasoline Comes From

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