Biden Pitches $174 Billion EV Plan in Michigan
Source：Reuters
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Los Angeles
Update Time：2021/06/09
President Joe Biden requested US automakers to make zero-emission vehicles at home for US consumers and not go abroad to make them making the case for his $174 Billion USD electric vehicle proposal. He also took the new EV zero-emission F-150 pickup truck for a test drive while visiting the Ford Motor electric vehicle plant in Dearborn Michigan.
A $1 Billion USD investment by General Motors (GM) in Mexico as well as Ford saying it will make some of its EVs in Mexico instead of Ohio has been criticized by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. GM defended itself by noting they had recently announced $9 Billion USD in US facilities for EVs and batteries with almost 9,000 new US jobs. Ford defended itself by saying that they understand building things in the US matters and noted they employ more UAW workers than their competitors in Detroit.
Biden was asked by UAW President Rory Gamble that the investment include good union jobs, strong labor standards, and vehicles built in the US. As the UAW wants GM and Ford to recognize the union at joint-venture facilities, Biden said that “We need you to deepen your partnership with the UAW”.
Biden on his test drive of the new F-150 electric vehicle truck said that “This sucker’s quick”, and noted the EV truck could go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Biden wants to encourage Americans to buy EVs and argues for government spending to provide rebates and tax credits. These rebates and tax incentives will not include high-priced luxury EVs.
Auto workers fear EVs would mean fewer jobs so Biden is trying to win them over as well as push for EVs in the auto industry heartland. Key to building up US electric vehicle manufacturing is new facilities for battery production that the White House encourages. The Biden plan includes grants to support these battery facilities as well as grants to retool factories for the building of advanced vehicles and parts. Biden does not want the US to fall behind China in selling EVs.
Consumer rebates in the amount of $100 Billion USD is an important piece of the Biden plan for EVs. It also includes an extra $10 Billion USD in new tax credits for zero-emission medium and heavy duty work vehicles.
Republicans oppose the EV focus of the Biden infrastructure plan and are set to release a counterproposal and meet with Biden’s chiefs of commerce and transportation. The Biden plan includes funding the shift of the federal fleet as well as the Postal Service delivery trucks to EVs. A significant number of school and transit buses are to receive $45 Billion USD for electrification according to the Biden plan. By 2030, the President wants there is to be built 500,000 EV charging stations with $15 Billion USD.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-pitch-his-174-bln-electric-vehicle-plan-michigan-2021-05-18/