Electric vehicle progress in the United States has seen a significant surge over the past four years. More EVs are on American roads than ever before, EV chargers are now prevalent on many major highways, and the federal government has adopted a large fleet of cost-saving EVs. However, despite this progress, the new presidential administration is looking to dismantle these advancements under the guise of cost-cutting measures.
The latest effort by the Trump administration to remove thousands of EV charging ports from federal buildings and properties alone could potentially cost taxpayers over a billion dollars. This decision comes after the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages federal properties and facilities, was instructed to decommission all EV chargers deployed during the Biden administration. This move could result in the removal of anywhere between 2,200 to 8,000 charger ports at more than 650 locations. The estimated cost of decommissioning these stations is between $50 million to $100 million, adding to the potential financial losses.
In addition to dismantling the EV charging infrastructure, the government is also considering selling off the 25,000 EVs that have already been purchased. This could lead to significant losses, with each vehicle potentially selling for only 25 percent of its original value. The premature disposal of these EVs could result in a loss of $225 million, with an additional $700 million needed to purchase new gas-powered vehicles.
Overall, the potential losses from decommissioning the EV charging network, selling off EVs at a loss, and purchasing new gas-powered vehicles could amount to $1.325 billion. This significant financial setback threatens to undo the progress made in modernizing the government’s transportation fleet and could have a negative impact on taxpayers.
Furthermore, the cybersecurity of EV charging stations has become a growing concern, with a recent report showing a 39% increase in cyberattacks targeting EV chargers and smart mobility products. Threat actors are increasingly targeting these systems, with the potential to disrupt charging services and compromise user data. This poses a significant risk to the EV charging infrastructure and highlights the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect these vital systems.
On a more positive note, Tesla is preparing to roll out Full Self-Driving (FSD) features in China. Chinese Tesla owners who have purchased the FSD package will soon be able to activate certain Autopilot For City Streets and Navigate on Autopilot features. This move is seen as a step towards offering FSD capabilities in the Chinese market, although regulatory approval is still pending. The rebranding of the FSD software package to “FSD Intelligent Assisted Driving” aims to address regulatory concerns and ensure compliance with local regulations.
In conclusion, the EV charging experience in the United States and globally has seen significant advancements and challenges. While progress has been made in expanding EV infrastructure and implementing advanced technologies like FSD, there are still issues to address, including cybersecurity threats and regulatory hurdles. Moving forward, it is essential to continue improving the EV charging experience, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and promoting the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions.