Vice President Kamala Harris has been at the center of controversy regarding her stance on electric vehicles. Despite her previous support for banning new gas-powered cars by 2035, her campaign recently claimed that she is now opposed to electric vehicle mandates. This shift in position has raised questions about Harris’s consistency and commitment to environmental policies.
In a „fact check“ email, Harris’s campaign rapid response director dismissed claims made by former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance about the vice president’s supposed plan to „force every American to own an electric vehicle.“ The email clarified that Harris does not support an electric vehicle mandate but highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided subsidies and tax credits for electric vehicles.
However, what the „fact check“ fails to mention is Harris’s past support for legislation that aimed to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2040. The Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2019, co-sponsored by Harris, proposed transitioning the United States to 100% zero-emission vehicles by requiring a certain percentage of new vehicle sales to be electric or hydrogen-powered each year until 2040.
During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris advocated for even more aggressive standards, calling for a ban on internal combustion engine cars by 2035. Despite these previous stances, the Harris-Biden administration recently finalized regulations that will push for more electric and hybrid vehicles to be sold by 2032, signaling a shift in Harris’s approach to environmental policies.
Harris’s changing positions on various issues, including support for Medicare for All, banning fracking, and legalizing illegal immigration, have led to accusations of flip-flopping in an attempt to appeal to a broader range of voters. These revised positions have been announced by her campaign rather than confirmed by the vice president herself, raising concerns about her consistency and credibility.
Overall, the debate surrounding Harris’s stance on electric vehicles highlights the complexities of environmental policy and the challenges of balancing competing interests. As the push for sustainable transportation grows, it will be essential for policymakers like Harris to provide clear and consistent leadership to address climate change and promote a greener future.
