· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: American interest in electric vehicles (EVs) has declined, with Gallup reporting that only 51% of U.S. adults are now open to owning an EV — down from 59% in 2023
• The most significant drop came from those previously most enthusiastic: the share of Americans who either own or are seriously considering an EV fell from 16% to 11% in one year
• While overall EV sales rose to over 365,000 units in Q4 2024, the pace of growth has slowed
🔭 The context: This shift comes amid a turbulent policy and economic environment
• EV manufacturers face headwinds from the Trump administration’s protectionist tariffs, a potential rollback of EV consumer tax credits, and stagnation in national charging infrastructure expansion
• Concerns over EV range, charging accessibility, and affordability continue to challenge mainstream adoption, particularly in a politically polarized landscape
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reduced consumer enthusiasm for EVs threatens to undermine U.S. decarbonization goals, particularly in the transportation sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of national emissions
• A slower transition also weakens the U.S. position in the global EV race, while delaying emissions reductions critical to meeting climate targets
• High hybrid interest, however, may serve as a transitional bridge to cleaner mobility
⏭️ What's next: Market uncertainty is likely to persist through 2025 as federal policy debates continue
• Key inflection points include decisions on consumer tax incentives, the fate of EV-related infrastructure spending, and how automakers adjust product offerings
• With consumer interest plateauing and growth lagging behind global peers, U.S. policymakers and industry leaders face mounting pressure to reinforce public confidence in the EV transition
💬 One quote: “There’s a lot of room to grow in terms of the sales side. But there’s just a lot of uncertainty.” – Corey Cantor, Zero Emission Transportation Association
📈 One stat: EVs accounted for approximately 10% of new car sales in the U.S. in 2024, with over 365,000 sold in the final quarter alone
See here detailed sustainability performance of companies like Polestar, and Ford
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