Buttigieg & Perry Clash Over EV Sales in Heated House Hearing

In a contentious House hearing on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) engaged in a heated exchange over the federal government's push for electric vehicles (EVs). The debate centered on EV sales figures, market dynamics, and the administration's role in promoting clean energy transportation.

Rep. Perry asserted that the government's EV initiative "is not working," claiming that sales numbers are declining. He urged the administration to "let the market decide" and accused them of imposing "de facto" EV mandates. This confrontation echoed a similar clash between the two officials at a House hearing last fall.

Secretary Buttigieg swiftly countered Perry's claims, stating, "Given that time is limited, I will confine myself to addressing the factually incorrect portions of what you have said, beginning with the assertion that these sales are going down; they are in fact going up." Buttigieg cited that 1.2 million EVs were sold in 2023, although they still constitute less than 10% of the overall vehicle market.

The exchange grew more intense as Perry repeatedly questioned the breakdown between government and private EV sales. Buttigieg assured that more citizens purchase EVs than government entities, but Perry expressed skepticism about this claim.

Continuing his fact-check, Buttigieg refuted Perry's assertion that EV costs are rising, noting that prices have actually decreased, though he acknowledged that these reductions do not account for government subsidies. The Transportation Secretary also explained that Perry's perception of declining sales was due to an inappropriate comparison between the final quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, rather than comparing year-over-year data for the same quarter.

"Tailspin is a bizarre word to use for a growing sector of our economy," Buttigieg remarked, addressing Perry's characterization of the EV market.

Perry maintained his opposition to what he perceives as a mandate, stating, "What I'm not happy about is the mandate. The American people should be able to buy any vehicle they want."

The Biden administration has set an ambitious goal of having half of all new vehicles sold be electric or hybrid by 2030. To support this objective, the administration recently announced new climate regulations on tailpipe emissions in March.

Buttigieg strongly rejected the notion of a mandate, emphasizing consumer choice: "There is no mandate. You can purchase a gas car if you want to pay gas prices at the pump, but if you don't, you can purchase an EV with our help."

Why This Matters: This debate highlights the ongoing tension between government initiatives to combat climate change and concerns about market interference. The outcome of this policy dispute could significantly impact the future of transportation in the United States, affecting both consumers and the automotive industry.

Key Takeaways:

• EV sales are increasing, with 1.2 million units sold in 2023.
• The Biden administration aims for 50% of new vehicle sales to be electric or hybrid by 2030.
• Debates persist over the role of government in promoting EV adoption.
• EV prices have decreased, although they still represent less than 10% of the market.
• The administration denies imposing mandates, emphasizing consumer choice in vehicle purchases.