Letter: All-EV policy is costly, unrealistic
Recently, the Herald reported that turnout at an EV (electric powered vehicles) Car Show meant that we have reached a "turning point for electric autos." And we just learned that Illinois Gov. Pritzker hopes to one-day see vehicles powered by gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines outlawed. It seems that the technological hopes of climate change zealots have become overblown hype, which is scoring points among the uninformed.
Let me stipulate that I agree that there is a place for EVs in the overall road transportation options here and abroad. However, that place is not the garage floor or driveway of every American. It could be right for some drivers; and it could be very wrong for others.
There are too many limiting flaws in the "only EVs" option than can be listed here. Also, recognize that the battery-building, old battery disposition, and normal production and distribution processes make EVs less climate-friendly than advertised.
It's troubling that so many public policy issues associated with the push to EVs are glossed over. EVs are expensive to buy and own. Why should lower-income taxpayers subsidize the purchases of other, high-income buyers?
Why are all taxpayers being burdened with cost of constructing charging stations around the country (and for the army of expensive bureaucrats that will badly manage them)? When internal combustion engine cars became dominant in the early 20th century, private enterprise built the gas stations to service them. The market will further develop an EV recharging network now.
The climate change crowd aims to shut down all fossil-fueled electrical generation plants without having any real sense of knowing if alternatives will meet electricity demands. Why put the nation at risk with an all-EV policy that may leave EVs stranded across the nation?
The all-EV campaign is both is a dangerous scam and another grab at our personal freedoms. Going forward with a mix of EVs, hybrids, and internatl comustion engines is a more realistic and agreeable policy.
Charles F. Falk
Schaumburg