Editors Note: Our readers responded strongly to this story when it originally ran; were reposting it here in case you missed it. It's something we all ought to be proud of. After the invasion, gas prices are soaring even higher. , among others, has raised as a reason to stop supporting EVs. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. REUTERS/Leah Millis. Industry officials have acknowledged that while EVs may save drivers money over time, their high upfront costs put them out of reach for many drivers in the United States. That means the company could receive $500 million from Kansas taxpayers for building its $4 billion plant. But these are the very residents who have not always been connected to electric vehicles that are viewed as kind of a luxury item. A majority of Republican voters (54%) oppose government support of EVs, according to a survey that Pew Research released in August. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? If the Biden administration truly believes this is a winning strategy, by all means, they should continue to go out and make speeches like this from now until November. Buttigieg said: They found that owning a new compact EV was "only slightly more expensive about $600 annually than its gas-powered counterpart." Market data provided by Factset. Even Buttigieg's reference to a $12,500 discount for people buying a new electric vehicle is ridiculous -- the average price difference between a new E.V. Buttigieg was among a host of officials who descended upon the old Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in western Johnson County to survey the vast field of dirt where the $4 billion plant that is expected to employ 4,000 people will one day stand. Makes me think you're perfectly content to see gas at $5, even $7 in some places, just so you can plug electric cars. (Fox News). These provisions are designed to reach more people, including those with low- to moderate-incomes, bolster domestic manufacturing, and support widespread EV adoption. Maybe the most visible symbol is the resurrection of the old, towering and long-abandoned. In terms of pricing, an EV is equivalent to an entry-level luxury car. One. The U.S. electric vehicle market is expected to grow from $28 billion in 2021 to $137 billion in 2028, according to a Fortune Business Insights report published last July. At a Michigan rally Saturday for former President Donald Trump, Greene griped that Democrats like Pete Buttigieg want to emasculate the way we drive and force all of you to rely on electric vehicles.. All our leaders think the problem is YOU. And so it's one of many reasons why we need to manage this transition in a smart way. Maybe the most visible symbol is the resurrection of the old, towering and long-abandoned Michigan Central Station in Detroit that had become a widely seen symbol of the citys decline. Our society is sick., The Biden administration has made support for EVs a top priority. The catastrophic 3 February derailment of a nearby train . " Democrats like Pete Buttigieg want to emasculate the way we drive and force all of you to rely on electric vehicles," Greene said. The anti-LGBTQ+ congresswoman said Buttigieg is trying to "emasculate the way we drive" by promoting electric vehicles. For Americans angry at Bidens energy policies which critics claimed seem to have followed through on his campaign promise to get Americans off fossil fuels Buttigiegs statements added insult to injury. We have the technology to transition to a zero-emission fleet. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. But put aside Greenes not-even-thinly-disguised homophobia, at least for the moment, and focus on the other part of her quote from Saturday namely, her attacks on EVs. Of course no, Buttigieg chuckled as Gimenez said: I think thats what I heard you say., No, no, the laughing transportation secretary insisted. On the contrary, the list of Republican officials who have attacked the Biden administrations EV agenda in similar terms is long and includes everybody from Florida Sen. Rick Scott to Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Not all of us make $221,400 a year to rush off onto maternity to chestfeed babies, declare highways racist and ignore supply chain crises like you. Last month, we announced a $5 billion investment to build out a nationwide electric vehicle charging network, so that people from rural to suburban to urban communities can all benefit from the gas savings of driving an EV., Buttigieg says you dont have to worry about gas prices if you buy an electric vehiclesomeone should remind him how out of touch he sounds pic.twitter.com/tiJVkl7wB3, Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 7, 2022. An even larger majority (67%) said they were unlikely ever to buy one. I knew this might come up, so I just pulled a few of the latest prices: A Chevy Bolt, so an American-made, 2022 EV, is $26,595, he told Perry. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) spoke at a rally for Donald Trump in Michigan this weekend and slipped in a homophobic remark about out gay Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. When the time comes, Democrats will learn exactly how Americans feel about them at the polls. Part of HuffPost Politics. Electric cars *are* eventually going to be cheaper than ICE-powered vehicles; they already have better . of Bidens visit to Ford headquarters in Dearborn last year, when he test drove the new electric F-150. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 10, 2021. Accessed 30 Nov. 2021. Pete Buttigieg, the brilliant mastermind who brought us the gas tax and the notion that everyone who can't afford gas should just buy a $60,000 electric car, is the latest in the Biden . Legal Statement. Buttigieg's message to drivers is well-timed. During a speech on March 7, Buttigieg said Americans should simply stop worrying about gas prices and buy an electric car. An internal Department of Transportation (DOT) watchdog said on Monday that it would conduct an audit of Secretary Pete Buttigieg's use of Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) taxpayer-funded jets for official trips, in addition to his predecessor's travel, Elaine Chao. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stressed in a new interview that families who buy electric vehicles (EVs) "never have to worry about gas prices again." By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Cavuto asked: "Well, yes, GM said they're not even going to be making anything but electric vehicles after 2035. The U.S. Department of Transportation in September also approved a 50-state electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plan that provides states with access to up to $5 billion in funds over the next five years to build a network of charging stations covering 75,000 miles of highway. Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was once again blasted for pushing for electric vehicles on Tuesday, this time for saying, "The more pain" Americans feel at the pump, "the more benefit there is for" EV owners. As recently as last Thursday, Buttigieg promoted EVs while appearing on the radio show BigBoyTV. in Detroit that had become a widely seen symbol of the citys decline. He has five years of writing experience with various outlets and enjoys covering politics and sports. Clean transportation can bring significant cost savings for the American people, as well, Buttigieg said. In March, she told Trump rally attendees in Georgia that Pete Buttigieg can take his electric vehicles and his bicycles, and he and his husband can stay out of our girls bathrooms. The following month, she said that mom and dad have been replaced by Chasten and Pete Buttigieg and their designer babies. HuffPost's top politics stories, straight to your inbox. Delaware's Joe Biden ultimately won the Democratic . Lauren DeCicca / Getty Images; Justin Sullivan / Getty Images. Electric Cars Are Better for the Planet and Often Your Budget, Too. The New York Times, 15 Jan. 2021. Buttigieg sat down with WMBD's Matt Sheehan for a one-on-one interview on the future of electric vehicles, and a new program the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched to try to . Twitter users again slammed Buttigieg for using Americans struggles to pay for gas to push for green policies. But the visit also underscored the national prominence of the project, which is part of a new era of manufacturing helping to fuel the rapidly expanding market for electric vehicles. "Let them eat electric cars," tweeted Hans Mahncke, co-host of "Truth Over News" on EpochTV. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. That being, save them from their life of drudgery while BEVs and Fuel-Cell . Accessed 30 Nov. 2021. Americans who live in rural and urban areas would benefit . And yet thats also where the opposition to EVs becomes a little mystifying, because its not at all hard to think of reasons that conservatives even the Trump-loving kind ought to be excited about EVs. (CNSNews.com) - Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was ready with his answer when Fox News's Neil Cavuto asked him about the widespread, hurricane-related power outages in southwest Florida. 3) Meanwhile, how do we get people to buy electric cars when insane inflation means they cant even afford food or housing? Accessed 30 Nov. 2021. Buttigieg Blasted for Urging Americans to Buy Electric Cars to Save on Fuel Costs. Sean Hannity, 29 Nov. 2021, https://hannity.com/media-room/let-them-buy-cars-buttigieg-blasted-for-urging-americans-to-buy-electric-cars-to-save-on-fuel-costs/. The more pain we are all experiencing from the high price of gas, the more benefit there is for those who can access electric vehicles, Buttigieg told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee just before asking Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) to reconsider opposing the reduction of EV upfront prices with tax credits.. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's recent comments that electric vehicles (EVs) are cheaper than traditional alternatives were misleading, experts told FOX Business. She tweeted, "Remember this when Pete campaigns to be president in the future. Republicans lit up Buttigieg on social media, with Gimenez tweeting: Pete Buttigieg may be a small town mayor, but his policies have been a big time problem for America. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will speak about electric vehicles on Monday in a day-long trip to the Kansas City area that will . All Rights Reserved. On Thursday, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the town of East Palestine, Ohio, for some much-needed damage control. Buttigieg said no one envisions an "overnight" transition to electric vehicles. "Natural Gas Fuel Basics." "Do you think this reminds folks that we're not ready, or the EVs are not ready for prime time?" Cavuto asked Buttigieg. Pete Buttigieg didn't mention that with gas prices on Monday. Steer clear: Cows cause hours-long traffic jam on Florida King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. The U.S. electric vehicle market is expected to grow from $28 billion in 2021 to $137 billion in 2028, according to a Fortune Business Insights report published last July. The exchange came Tuesday when Buttigieg appeared before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to testify about the administrations progress in implementing the bipartisan infrastructure law. If so, it wouldnt be the first time. I happen to know a lot about EVs because I drive one. And there's certainly nothing to be gained by trying to stop this progress or slow down American leadership, when it's very clear that industry and the world are moving in a direction that's going to be cleaner, at a time when most of us believe that climate change is real and most of us recognize there are amazing numbers of good-paying American jobs to be had, if we insist on the U.S., rather than somebody like China, leading the way into that clean energy future.". That seems like the sort of thing Greene and her allies would support at least, if they were genuinely focused on how policies affect their constituents rather than whether the policies came from a Democratic administration. Pete Buttigieg has hit back at Marjorie Taylor Greene after she accused him of trying to "emasculate" people by encouraging them to opt for electric cars over carbon dioxide emitting vehicles . The official Twitter account of the Republican Party seized on Buttigiegs statements, writing, "Dont forget, with the Biden administration the pain is the point. So youre saying the more pain we have, the more benefit were going to get? a flabbergasted Gimenez asked Buttigieg. - $4,500 for vehicles with final assembly in the U.S. at a union facility The market has been rapidly growing in the United States as consumer preferences change and governments heavily subsidize electrification. But what I see here in Kansas and what were focusing on nationally is making sure we leave nothing to chance when it comes to American leadership and a growing industry, Buttigieg said, adding that in the Biden administration industrial policy isnt a dirty word.. Panasonic is a fantastic example of what is possible.. Panasonic selected Kansas to build its battery plant after a full-press court by state officials. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Nancy Pelosi said on "Morning Joe" on Tuesday that high gas prices were mostly due to the war in Ukraine. It is possible, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): "When the prices of competing fuels rise relative to the price of natural gas, switching from those fuels to natural gas may increase natural gas demand and prices.". (We leased the 2018 model as well, but loved it so much we decided to buy it outright when that lease was up.). Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg schooled Fox News host Bret Baier on electric cars over the weekend. Other critics argued that Buttigiegs approach did not, in fact mean families would never have to worry about gas prices again, or that they would end up having to worry about electricity prices instead. This strategy is obviously dishonest, but it could also be political detrimental for Democrats. , Well, if we didnt make any upgrades to the grid, sure, Buttigieg responded. And its not just Michigan where EVs have potential to create jobs or anchor growth. And although GM has discontinued the Volt, that same plant now manufactures other vehicles from GMs new, quickly expanding all-electric line which, just this past January, GM announced would lead to the creation of 8,000 new jobs in the state.