Trump's Hatred of EVs Is Making Gas Cars More Expensive

"As President Donald Trump sees it, environmental regulations that attempt to improve efficiency and address climate change only make products more expensive and perform worse. He has long blamed efficiency regulations for his frustrations with things like toilets and showerheads. He began his second term in office to " unleash prosperity through deregulation." But there's at least one big way that American companies and households may end up paying more, not less, for the president's anti-environment policy moves."

"And they aren't just getting more expensive to buy; cars are getting more expensive to own. For most Americans, gasoline is their single-largest energy expenditure, around $2,930 per household each year on average. While a more efficient dishwasher, light bulb, or faucet may have a higher sticker price up front-especially as manufacturers adjust to new rules-cars, appliances, solar panels, and electronics can more than pay for themselves with lower operating costs over their lifetimes."

"No one knows this better than the US auto industry, which has whiplashed between competing environmental regulations for over a decade. President Barack Obama tightened vehicle efficiency and pollution standards. In his first term, Trump loosened them. President Joe Biden reinstated and strengthened them. Now Trump is reversing course again-leaving the $1.6 trillion US auto industry unsure what turn to take next."

President Donald Trump views environmental efficiency regulations as increasing costs and reducing product performance, citing items like toilets and showerheads and pledging to 'unleash prosperity through deregulation.' Rolling back efficiency rules can increase long-term consumer and business expenses despite higher upfront costs for efficient products, because those products often save money over their lifetimes through lower operating costs. New vehicles are notably more expensive, with average sticker prices topping $50,000, and gasoline remains the largest household energy expense at about $2,930 annually. Repeated policy reversals have left the $1.6 trillion US auto industry uncertain about future regulatory direction.

Read at WIRED