What Does Trump's Presidency Mean for EVs?
CARS.COM — The 2016 presidential election stunned many, and the car world is no exception. With nearly every global automaker poised to introduce more electric vehicles into their future lineups, the question now is what kind of world these EVs will enter.
Related: NHTSA Mandates Noisemakers in Hybrids, EVs
Here in the U.S., attention is fixed upon Tesla and its next moves with President-elect Donald Trump, who affixed himself to traditional petroleum companies and the coal industry. A report by Bloomberg questioned not just Tesla’s positioning in Trump’s vision of America, but also how the automotive industry might advance — or regress — with Republican leadership at the helm of the nation.
Why should I care? Is Tesla’s $2.8 billion plan to purchase Solar City now in jeopardy? Will EVs and other alternative forms of power generation or transportation receive federal backing or subsidies? And will the EPA roll back plans to significantly increase the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks rolling down U.S. roads in the years to come?
With all the uncertainty over what a Trump presidency might look like, worrying about electric cars and tax credits for alternative power might seem petty. Not so when you realize we’re talking about the air we breathe, both now and for decades to come. Zeroing in on Tesla is easy since it’s the only automaker that has placed all its bets (in fact, its very existence) on an entirely zero-emission range of vehicles.
The good news here — and yes, there is some good news — is that car companies have already invested too much time, energy and money into EVs to throw it all away. As the Bloomberg story noted, Republicans and Democrats had already been supportive of subsidies for solar power before Trump’s huge upset win, so it’s not likely any party is going to backtrack.
It’s also worth remembering that federal subsidies for electric cars were always meant to end once any manufacturer reached a sales level of 200,000 units. As battery technology progresses, it has also gotten significantly cheaper year by year. Even an overnight cessation of the $7,500 federal EV tax incentive would have only a marginal effect on a market that’s gaining in momentum — while simultaneously becoming more affordable.
Truck and SUV sales might tick upwards, especially if the EPA doesn’t enforce more stringent mileage averages. Yet the story isn’t about only Tesla and Trump, it’s how an entire industry reacts to a wildly changing global and political landscape.
Need a Breather? Come to L.A.
Catch your breath, not all news is politically charged. The 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show opens its doors to the world’s media on Nov. 16 and Cars.com will be there covering all the action from the show floor. This year’s show could go down as the one of the best and, conversely, also one of the worst-timed auto shows of recent memory. With the world focused on a Trump presidency, car companies will be hard pressed to grab the media spotlight. Then again, if you need a break from doom and gloom news, the L.A. Auto Show is perfectly timed!
Why should I care? We aren’t suggesting automakers are going to roll over and play dead. Remember what we said about the time and energy already dedicated to electric vehicles? The same holds true for the elaborate stands, press conferences and glitzy introductions for vehicles set to debut in Los Angeles.
For those with a green streak in their automotive DNA, the 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid promises to be one of the main attractions. This high-performance German luxury sedan first broke cover at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, though this marks the model’s first appearance in the U.S. Powered by a turbocharged V-6 engine coupled to a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor, this all-wheel-drive and plug-in hybrid Porsche delivers a maximum of 462 horsepower and 516 pounds-feet of torque. Top speed is quoted by Porsche as 172 mph.
Volkswagen will (once again) attempt to exorcise its diesel demons with the unveiling of its new electric-powered Golf, which should offer a driving range of around 200 miles. Over at the Jaguar stand, be prepared to be wowed — and worried, if you’re a Tesla Model X owner looking to race a rival: The British automaker is introducing the I-Pace Concept, the company’s first-ever fully electric SUV. Lean and taut, about the only thing not to like about the I-Pace is the car’s silly name.
There are two electric motors, one at each axle, that deliver 400 horsepower to this AWD sport-utility. Jaguar has not set a price, but the SUV should go on sale in 2018. The company did say one thing, however, that related to the road-rocket nature of the I-Pace: Punch the pedal and the sprint from zero-to-60 mph takes only 4 seconds.
