Secretário de Transportes defende incentivos para veículos elétricos em audiência na Câmara

The Daily Beast relata que o Secretário de Transportes, Pete Buttigieg, defendeu vigorosamente os incentivos aos veículos elétricos (VE) durante uma recente audiência do Comitê de Supervisão da Câmara. O secretário enfrentou os representantes republicanos que questionaram o custo e a necessidade dos descontos nos impostos dos VEs.

Buttigieg’s Powerful Rebuttal

When Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL) suggested that EV tax rebates “were just too expensive,” Buttigieg didn’t pull any punches. He shot back:

“If you think this is too expensive, wait until you find out how much oil and gas subsidies you’ve been supporting. Wait until you find out about the economic impact, that some economists have put at $15 million every hour, or every day, or trillions of dollars every year for letting the environmental conditions of this planet to worsen.”

Essa resposta destacou os custos frequentemente ignorados associados aos veículos tradicionais movidos a combustíveis fósseis e seu impacto ambiental.

Sem mandato, apenas escolha

In another exchange, Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) claimed the EV industry was in a “tailspin” and questioned whether the administration would stop incentivizing EV purchases. Buttigieg clarified that there’s no mandate to buy EVs, stating:

“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.”

O Secretário enfatizou que os incentivos têm como objetivo oferecer mais opções aos americanos e manter uma vantagem competitiva no mercado global de veículos elétricos.

Crescimento econômico e concorrência

Buttigieg rebateu a noção de que o setor de veículos elétricos está enfrentando dificuldades, chamando-o de "setor em crescimento da nossa economia". Ele também enfatizou a importância de manter uma vantagem sobre o mercado chinês de veículos elétricos, destacando os benefícios econômicos e estratégicos de um forte setor doméstico de veículos elétricos.

EVXL’s Take

The exchanges in this hearing underscore the ongoing debate about the role of EVs in America’s transportation future. While some politicians express concerns about costs and consumer choice, the benefits of EVs – including reduced emissions, lower long-term operating costs, and potential economic growth – continue to drive their adoption.

As the EV market matures, it’s crucial to consider both the immediate costs of incentives and the long-term benefits they may bring. The transition to electric vehicles represents not just a shift in transportation technology, but a potential pathway to a more sustainable and economically competitive future for the United States.