The battle over electric vehicles (EVs) is heating up in Michigan, with potentially far-reaching consequences for both the auto industry and the upcoming election. A recent report from The Guardian highlights how Trump’s anti-EV rhetoric is gaining traction among autoworkers, while the Biden-Harris campaign struggles to counter these claims effectively.

Trump’s EV Offensive

Trump’s been hammering home his anti-EV message, and it’s striking a chord with many United Auto Workers (UAW) members. At the Republican National Convention, he didn’t mince words:

“I will end the electric vehicle mandate on day one, thereby saving the US auto industry from complete obliteration, which is happening right now.”

This kind of talk is eroding Biden’s support among union workers in Michigan – a critical swing state. We’re talking about a potential 25-point drop since the 2020 election. That’s huge.

The Labor Question: Fact vs. Fiction

Here’s where things get messy. Trump’s been pushing this idea that EVs need way less labor to produce – like 40% less. But is that actually true? The Guardian breaks it down:

Multiple studies and industry bigwigs are saying it takes about the same or even more labor to make EVs.
A Carnegie Mellon study found EV powertrains might need 2-3 times more labor hours than gas powertrains.
GM’s Gerald Johnson straight-up said, “the employee base needed in the future for EV production is very similar to what’s needed for a comparable [internal combustion] vehicle today.”

So why the disconnect? It looks like some old comments from auto execs back in 2017 got taken out of context and have been bouncing around the echo chamber ever since.

Michigan’s EV Future

Despite the political noise, Michigan’s not sitting on its hands when it comes to EVs:

The state’s got the most announced battery production in the whole country.
At least seven battery plants are either up and running or in the works.
GM’s building a massive new battery plant right there in Michigan.

The Political Fallout

This EV debate isn’t just about cars – it’s shaping Michigan’s entire political landscape:

Union member support for Biden has taken a nosedive, dropping 13 points since the last election.
About 55% of folks in the state are giving the thumbs down to the EV transition.
Autoworker votes are make-or-break in Michigan. Remember, Trump won by a razor-thin 10,000 votes back in 2016.

Bernie Porn, an Epic-MRA Michigan pollster, didn’t pull any punches: “Biden and Democrats are doing a lousy job on messaging [on EVs]. Democrats are losing support … but they’ve been silent.”

The Messaging Problem

It’s not all doom and gloom for the pro-EV camp, though. Mike Murphy from the EV Politics Project thinks there’s a way to turn this around:

“It’s the biggest secret in politics,” he says, referring to the job-creating power of EVs. Their focus groups found people across the political spectrum are more supportive of EVs when they learn it creates jobs.

So why isn’t the Biden-Harris team shouting this from the rooftops?

Murphy’s baffled: “I don’t know why the Biden-Harris administration has been so bad at telling the story. They need to go on the offense.”

EVXL’s Take

The EV transition in Michigan is more than just an industrial shift – it’s become a political powder keg. As we’ve seen in our recent Tesla coverage, the EV market is evolving at breakneck speed. The Biden-Harris campaign needs to seriously up their game when it comes to messaging about EVs and jobs. They’ve got the facts on their side, but they’re losing the narrative battle.

This whole debate underscores how critical accurate information is in shaping public opinion about electric vehicles and their impact on the workforce. It’s not just about the cars themselves, but about the future of American manufacturing and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

What’s your take on this EV political showdown in Michigan? Do you think the Democrats can turn the tide with better messaging, or has Trump’s narrative already won the day? Drop your thoughts in the comments – we’re all ears!