On April 28, 2025, major automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Hyundai, urged Congress to intervene and halt California’s ambitious plan to phase out gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, a policy adopted by 11 other states. Citing potential disruptions to vehicle shipments within months, the industry’s plea highlights a critical tension between regulatory mandates and the practical realities of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, particularly around charging infrastructure, reports Reuters.

A Clash of Vision and Reality

California’s landmark regulation, enabled by a 2021 EPA waiver under President Joe Biden, mandates that at least 80% of new vehicle sales be electric by 2035. This move aims to slash emissions and accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation. However, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation—representing giants like General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai—warns of dire consequences. “Car companies could soon be forced to substantially reduce the number of overall vehicles for sale to inflate their proportion of electric vehicle sales,” the group stated, highlighting the risk of supply chain bottlenecks and reduced consumer choice.

The timing is critical. The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote this week on legislation to repeal the EPA waiver, a move that could derail California’s plan and send ripples across the EV industry. For EV owners and enthusiasts, this debate underscores a deeper issue: the readiness of infrastructure to support a full-scale transition.

Charging Infrastructure: The Real Bottleneck

The image accompanying the Reuters report, taken at a Tesla Supercharging station in Carlsbad, California, on March 7, 2022, shows EVgo fast-charging stations with signs reading, “This Charger is Now Accepting Reservations!” This detail reveals a persistent challenge—charging availability. Despite progress, the U.S. lags in deploying sufficient fast-charging networks. As of early 2025, the U.S. has approximately 183,000 public charging ports, but experts estimate a need for 1.2 million by 2030 to support widespread EV adoption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

EVgo, a major player in the charging space, has expanded its network to over 950 fast-charging locations nationwide, offering speeds up to 350 kW—capable of delivering 180 miles of range in just 15 minutes for compatible vehicles. Yet, the reservation system in Carlsbad hints at demand outstripping supply, a frustration for EV drivers who rely on seamless access to keep their vehicles powered.

Economic and Operational Impacts for EV Owners

For EV owners, the implications are stark. Limited charging infrastructure can lead to range anxiety, particularly on long drives. A 2024 survey by J.D. Power found that 39% of EV owners in the U.S. cited “lack of charging stations” as their top concern, up from 34% in 2022. If automakers reduce overall vehicle production to meet EV quotas, prices for both EVs and gas-powered cars could spike, squeezing budgets at a time when the average EV price hovers around $56,000, per Kelley Blue Book.

Operationally, the transition to EVs demands more than just vehicles—it requires a robust ecosystem. Fast-charging stations like EVgo’s are a step forward, but their reservation model suggests a stopgap, not a solution. For context, a Tesla Supercharger (250 kW) can add 200 miles of range in 15 minutes, but wait times at busy stations can stretch longer, especially during peak travel seasons.

EVXL’s Take: A Call for Balance and Bold Investment

At EVXL, we see this standoff as a wake-up call. California’s 2035 vision is bold, but ambition without infrastructure is like a car without a battery—it won’t go far. Automakers aren’t wrong to push back; their concerns reflect the real-world struggles of EV drivers who’ve circled lots looking for an open charger. Yet, scrapping the mandate risks stalling progress. The answer lies in a middle ground: Congress should tie any delay to a federal commitment for charging expansion—think 500,000 new ports by 2030, funded through public-private partnerships. EV owners deserve a future where plugging in is as easy as filling up, and that future starts with action, not arguments.