Trump wants to reverse policies that favor electric vehicles, but it won’t be easy

Since the election campaign, President Donald Trump was consistent. It would “end the electric vehicle (EV) mandate.” So it’s no surprise that the phrase appeared in an executive order he signed on Inauguration Day, just hours after he was sworn in.

In reality, the US has never had an EV mandate, or any other type of law or regulation that forces American buyers to opt for the electric automotive industry. Instead, the Biden administration tried to create a series of incentives to make these types of cars more attractive to both manufacturers and buyers. Trump’s new order attempts to undo all that.

But it’s complicated

Experts say the effects of the order are unclear and will likely take some time to become clear. The EV parts of the order seem more like “message” than immediate practical effects: “It’s about signaling the government’s intentions. It’s not clear what the administration will be able to do immediately,” says Timothy Johnson, an energy professor. and environment at the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment.

In the meantime, automakers will continue to make and sell electric vehicles, and consumers will be able to continue purchasing them. Some of the strictest standards will go into effect at the end of 2026, and it typically takes developers about five years to plan and build a car, meaning vehicles that meet those upcoming emissions standards should already be built and on sale. .

Automakers in the U.S. and around the world have already backed away from some of their most ambitious promises regarding electric vehicles, but they keep coming. The long-term future of the American auto industry is far from clear; other governments continue to implement favorable policies for electric vehiclesand critics warn that Chinese industry will increasingly be relied upon to navigate the transition.

One thing is clear for the future of EVs in the United States: there will be lawsuits.

These are the best electric cars that will arrive in 2025

After the chaotic relaunch of Jaguar and the circus, maroma and theater of the Tesla Cybercab presentation party, it is difficult to imagine that next year will surpass 2024. But we suggest that you see our selection of the best electric cars in 2025.

What can manufacturers do?

The executive order requires U.S. agencies to review their rules related to electric vehicles and determine whether they are “overly burdensome” and interfere with consumer choice. These must write the corresponding reports within a period of 30 days. “From there, the bureaucracy begins,” recites Kathy Harris, who directs the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) clean vehicles program. He explains that if an agency wants to repeal a rule, it has to go through the public process, that is, publishing new resources, receiving public feedback, going back and forth with the industry, and then announcing those comments. “There is too much red tape that intervenes between the Trump administration and an outright ban on any EV-related program.”

The White House’s clearest way to relax rules forcing manufacturers to design more EVs will be to focus on fuel efficiency and tailpipe regulations. These require that manufactured cars reach certain levels of efficiency and that manufacturers limit the pollutants emitted in the coming years. One of the easiest ways to achieve those goals is to sell more electric vehicles that do not consume gasoline or emit pollutants. The last time Trump was in office, it took his administration more than three years to replace Obama-era fuel efficiency standards. “This time, agencies could be more efficient and change the rules more quickly. Even then, the process could take months and months,” Harris suggests.