[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EV MANDATES LIMIT CHOICE, RAISE COSTS

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, an electric vehicle mandate presents 
serious challenges for our economy, families, and everyday life. While 
these vehicles are often promoted as the future, they come with 
significant limitations and costs.
  Long-distance travel can be difficult due to fewer charging stations 
than are needed, by far, and longer refueling times, rather than just 
the few minutes it takes to fill up with gasoline or diesel, this 
compared to gas-powered cars.
  Also, we have this futile program with the Federal Government that 
has so far put aside $8 billion a while back, and what have we got of 
it? Seven charging stations. There might be more by now, but it is 
pathetic.
  This is particularly problematic in rural areas like I represent 
where there isn't the infrastructure at all to have the electricity. 
The amount of load the power lines would need to carry isn't even there 
yet.
  How are you supposed to travel outside of a city area? Maybe it could 
just be a city mandate. Who knows?
  They have high upfront costs and horrifically high costs when you go 
to replace the batteries. Heaven knows, we have seen what happens when 
they catch fire. You can't put them out.
  We need not force these vehicles on a public that does not want to 
buy them.

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