Automakers warn Biden's EV initiative is doomed to failure

US President Joe Biden is pushing for two-thirds of new car sales to be electric by 2032. Photo: NIKOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Joe Biden's drive to introduce electric vehicles risks overloading U.S. charging infrastructure and creating catastrophic supply shortages, two of the world's largest automakers said.

Toyota and Vauxhall owner Stellaantis blamed the president «overly optimistic» in its push to introduce a rule requiring two-thirds of new car sales to be electric by 2032.

Companies were quick to indicate that they support the transition to low-emission vehicles and, in EVs in particular, but warned that they needed customers to buy them and that the costs were still too high for the mass market.

Cars typically cost around £10,000 more than comparable petrol versions, and many drivers can make up the difference with cheaper charging over the life of the car.

Toyota warned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA) that if the plans are implemented, there will be a rush to obtain lithium and other minerals needed to manufacture battery-powered cars.

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Toyota said, «The proposed rule underestimates key issues, including a shortage of minerals for battery production, the fact that these minerals are not mined or processed in the US, inadequate infrastructure, and the high cost of [battery electric vehicles].»

< p> Stellantis, which owns the Vauchall, Fiat and Chrysler brands, among others, said: “The proposed rule greatly underestimates the actions needed to create a target market for electric vehicles.

“Solving issues such as manufacturing capacity, battery production, charging infrastructure, and consumer adoption of electric vehicles will be paramount to the success of this ambitious proposed regulation.”

The restraint of Toyota and Stellantis is at odds with Tesla, which only makes battery-powered vehicles. power and is one of the largest manufacturers.

The Environmental Protection Agency said it could even increase its targets based on «rapid electrification in passenger cars.»

The Texas-based company led by billionaire Elon Musk, said the technology «has been sufficiently demonstrated, is rapidly being implemented, and significantly reduces competitive costs,» according to Bloomberg.

This comes after Toyota, which is the world's largest automaker by number of vehicles sold, at hailed a technological breakthrough in electric vehicle batteries last week that it claims will halve their cost, size and weight.