Watch Trump’s meet the press interview at the -104:00 minute (aka 13-14 minutes from the start) mark where he discusses the UAW strike: https://youtu.be/JOCRo97NoJ8?si=qNWyPlww9WI8Om2z
His analysis is brilliant, because he correctly identifies EV mandates as the real problem for the auto worker. In no particular order I paraphrase and add color to his points in no particular order:
* The EV mandate will result in most passenger cars sold in the U.S. being Chinese made. Even if UAW workers can get paid whatever they want it will not matter because their employers will be importing Chinese vehicles.
On this thread the rough consensus, which includes me, is that the EV mandate is impossible.
Well we are wrong and Trump is right. It is possible.
I spent most of September in Thailand, including 2 weeks in Chiang Mai. Unlike Bangkok, there is no mass transit system, and unlike the rest of Thailand, Chiang Mai is leas walkable.
So you use ride share (Grab App for example).
Over 10 percent of my Grab rides were in Chinese Neta sedans. 4 seaters. But they are beautiful cars.
I spoke at length to one of the drivers about his Neta.
* he doesn’t worry about range anxiety, as he gets 400km on a full charge
* he just charges at home using household current. Fully charges in 6 hours. Granted his household current’s wattage is twice that of U.S. household current due to 240Vs versus North American 120Vs. I am sure the Chinese can figure out a charging system that let uses two separate 120V 15A circuits to get the same 67 km/hour ( 42 mph) charging speed. By comparison my Tesla on a 50A / 240V circuit charges at 24 mph.
* 38 kwh battery (about half that of my Tesla) so this reduces cost.
* $15,000 USD in Thailand. A country with high import tariffs (hence the manufacturer opened factory in Thailand. Imagine the list price without a tariff. I am thinking $9999. At that price who cares if the battery dies in 8 years? Buy it, use it, junk it. Rinse, repeat.
Joe and his successors are just going to import $9000 EVs from China and shutdown the Detroit auto industry. And the voters, who can no longer afford any car thanks to Biden’s economic policies will not care.
Bluntly, after my Tesla S dies, I won’t care. I am a retiree on a fixed income. I am getting a Neta if it is available.
* a diesel semi tractor / trailer rig can go 2000 miles on a full tank (I did not know this. Trump said it, and I verified it). Whereas if one is lucky, an EV semi tractor / trailer rig will get 500 miles. And at the end of that, 30 minutes to charge from 35-70 miles 350 miles (70 percent) at Tesla’s truck Semi Chargers (not superchargers).
Trump correctly points out the impracticality.
Of course, I do not think freight should be moved 2000 miles on interstate highways when we have a perfectly functioning diesel powered rail freight system. And so, 300-2000 miles of range is over kill for a truck: unload a container at a rail station and limit trucks to local delivery
But I see Trump’s point. Putting long haul truck drivers out of work all of a sudden is going to be traumatic.
* The choice to drive an EV should be a consumer choice.
I was impressed with Trump’s grasp of the EV issues. I truly doubt anyone running for POTUS understands it as well as him. If I have his cognitive ability at age 77, then I will be smarter than I am today.
If you want a sensible ICE / EV policy there is just one electoral choice.
Even if it means my next EV will cost more than $10K.