Even though Ford EV sales – and all-electric vehicles sales in general – set a new record in 2023, there are still plenty of critics that aren’t convinced they’re the literal wave of the future – a list that includes some Ford dealers. The Ford Model e Certified program – which will be required for Ford dealers wishing to sell EVs in the future – has long been under fire, in fact. Meanwhile, a number of Ford dealers – coupled with lobby groups within that industry – have both previously sent letters to the Biden Administration urging it to scale back plans by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mandate a 60 percent sales mix for EVs by the 2030 model year, a number that would grow to 67 percent by 2032. Now, those same Ford dealers have penned a second letter to the administration, too.
This new letter points out that even though 4,000 auto dealers in total signed the first letter sent to the Biden Administration, it hasn’t yet responded to efforts to encourage the government to “tap the brakes” on its proposed mandate. “The letter reflected the voice of our customers – the Americans who come to our dealerships every day to buy vehicles that are affordable and meet their needs,” the letter reads.
With just a few weeks left to go before these proposed EPA regulations are expected to be finalized, this new letter points out a few potential road blocks that could get in the way of such a plan. Chiefly among them are the fact that the number of electric vehicles that qualify for the $7,500 tax credit in 2024 is less than half the number that qualified in 2023, which could have a severely negative impact on demand.
Additionally, the letter points out that just three EV charging stations have been built following a $7.5 billion dollar government investment made two years ago, which isn’t exactly easing public concerns regarding range anxiety. Finally, the group points out that EVs accounted for eight percent of total U.S. new vehicle sales in 2023, making it difficult or perhaps impossible to reach a 60 percent sales mix by 2030.
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