22 Rhode Island car dealerships among 3,800 urging President to slow down EV hope and hype

22 Rhode Island car dealerships joined over 3,800 dealers, representing every state in the United States, who signed a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to ‘slow down,’ the EPA proposal that could push battery-powered vehicles to 60% of new-vehicle sales by the 2030 model year and 67% by 2032. The dealerships collectively sell every major car brand.

“These vehicles are ideal for many people, and we believe their appeal will grow over time,” the dealers wrote in their letter to Biden on Tuesday. “The reality, however, is that electric vehicle demand today is not keeping up with the large influx of BEVs [battery electric vehicles] arriving at our dealerships prompted by the current regulations. BEVs are stacking up on our lots.”

“Last year, there was a lot of hope and hype about EVs,” the letter continued. “Early adopters formed an initial line and were ready to buy these vehicles as soon as we had them to sell. But that enthusiasm has stalled. Today, the supply of unsold BEVs is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships — even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives.”

The dealers say in their letter, “Some customers are in the market for electric vehicles, and we are thrilled to sell them. But the majority of customers are simply not ready to make the change.”

The IEA letter also notes that more than 50% of lithium, cobalt and graphite processing and refining capacity is located in China, the IEA data showed. Those three critical minerals, in addition to copper and nickel, are vital for EV batteries and other green energy technologies. Chinese investment firms have also been aggressive in purchasing stakes in African mines in recent years to ensure a firm control over mineral production.

The letter also notes other issues such as:

• EV cars lose their charge in very cold weather, and also lose their range
• EV cars can top off at free public charging stations, but taking a full charge can be as long as 45 minutes
• Regardless of financial incentives, few Americans can afford the autos.

Here is the full letter sent to the President:

Here is the full list of the 22 Auto Dealerships in Rhode Island that signed on to the letter:

We checked in with Tasca Ford as to why they were not on the list, but had no response by publication time.