SW Arkansas Times

Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas was recently featured in a MotorTrend documentary titled "Why America is Struggling with EVs." In the documentary, he discusses government subsidies and mandates related to electric vehicles (EVs), arguing that they are detrimental rather than beneficial to Americans.

Westerman questions the need for government subsidies to build charging stations, comparing it to the development of gas stations which were built due to market demand. He states, “When the internal combustion engine came along, you didn’t need a government subsidy to build gas stations. The market demanded filling stations along the roadways and people built them – they’re still building them today. Why does it take a government subsidy to build a charging station? It’s because they’re trying to force something in the market where government has no place forcing it in the market. Pushing EVs through government subsidies and regulations, I think, is bad policy.”

He also addresses claims that EVs are a solution to climate issues, noting that only 2.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from U.S. light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles. Westerman suggests that nuclear power should be prioritized if there is serious intent to reduce carbon emissions: “[EVs are] being billed as the solution to a climate issue and they’re not [the solution]. 13.49% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the United States. 29% of that comes from Transportation... If we were totally serious about reducing carbon emissions, there would be a much greater focus on nuclear power.”

Further critiquing current energy policies, he says: “We’re doubling down on wind and solar and we’re doubling down on EVs when there’s a lot bigger piece of the pie that could be captured by building nuclear power plants and either keeping the hydro that we have or expanding the hydro that we have.”

Additionally, Westerman points out competition challenges posed by China in this sector: "[China] doesn’t have a free market system, but they use their government-controlled system to unfairly compete in our free market system."

The full documentary can be viewed online.