In Washington, D.C., a key car dealer is voicing concerns about people’s growing reluctance towards electric vehicles (EVs), despite strong support and financial incentives from the Biden administration and plans to phase out traditional cars in several states.
Paul LaRochelle, VP of Sheehy Auto Stores with dealerships from Maryland to Virginia, told FOX News that it’s the customers, not just the dealers, who are hesitant about EVs.
He shared a story of a customer who was skeptical when finding out a car was electric, worried about what would happen if it broke down or ran out of charge during a busy commute.
LaRochelle pointed out a big problem with EVs: if they break down, they can’t just be jump-started and need a tow truck.
He’s asking the government to slow down the push for EVs, to make it easier for people to adapt and to make these cars more affordable.
Thirteen states, including big names like California and New York, are planning to ban or limit gas-powered cars.
In Virginia, the Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin is trying to overturn a mandate set by his Democratic predecessor, tying Virginia to California’s strict standards.
LaRochelle has noticed that people who buy EVs often return them, unhappy with the limited battery life and not enough places to charge them.
He also mentions that EVs are too expensive for many, like military members or teachers in the D.C. area, who can’t afford cars costing $60-80,000.
This issue ties into a larger conservative concern about where the materials for EV batteries come from.
Currently, there’s a preference to import these from China.
However, Republican representatives like John James from Michigan and former representative Lou Barletta from Pennsylvania argue for getting these materials from within the U.S. Barletta highlighted the potential in Pennsylvania’s coalfields.
This ongoing discussion about EVs highlights several key issues: the practicality and cost of these vehicles, and the reliance on foreign resources for essential materials.
Conservatives, as shown through LaRochelle’s comments and others, are advocating for a more cautious and affordable approach.
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