Interest in electric vehicles maybe waning, why?

The future of electric power vehicles appears clouded. Although California’s current air resource policies call for prohibiting the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in 2035 or later, over the next 10 years, the percentage of new gas-powered vehicles sold in the State must gradually decline to zero in 2035.

A recent Gallop poll found that the percentage of Americans who own or are considering buying an electric vehicle has declined to 51 percent in a March survey, compared to 59 percent two years ago.

However, the same poll shows that 65 percent own or would consider a hybrid (gas and electric-powered) vehicle. According to Gallop, the reason for the decline was not evident from the survey.

However, since President Donald Trump’s election, there has been talk about eliminating the federal tax credit of $7,500 for the purchase of these vehicles. This step requires Congressional action; a Presidential Executive Order cannot change a law.

Although Trump has not advocated this step, several of his Executive Orders undermine California’s policies by encouraging the limitation of gas-powered vehicles.

On Inauguration Day, his first step was signing the “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order. Among its energy policies, the EO states that the U.S. will now “. eliminate the ‘electric vehicle (EV) mandate’ and promote true consumer choice . . . by terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles; and by considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase by individuals, private businesses, and government entities alike by rendering other types of vehicles unaffordable.”

He revoked several of former President Joseph Biden’s EOs, which encouraged the expansion of the EV market through subsidies and the goal of 50 percent of new vehicles sold in 2030 being electric or hydrogen.

Last week, he signed another EO promoting domestic energy production and limiting the states’ ability to curb actions encouraging climate change. (see accompanying story on page x.)

Gallop’s poll states, “The groups most likely to express interest in EVs in 2023 — Democrats, liberals, young adults, college graduates, and residents of the West — are (except for liberals) the ones that have shown the biggest declines.”

According to the California Energy Commission, more than 2.1 million ZEVs have been sold in the State since 2010, and annual sales continue to grow. The 441,283 EVs sold in 2023 were three times the new sales in 2020. As of the end of September, The State recorded 343,213 new sales, 78% of the 2024 total.

According to the California Air Resources Board, thirty percent of new ZEVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California.