Joe Biden to set goal of half of all US cars to zero-emission by 2030

Among the campaign promises and goals that US President Joe Biden has made in his ascent to the presidency was to focus on clean energy and electric vehicles. In another environmental move, the White House announced that Biden is expected to set the goal of having half of US cars sold by 2030 to be zero-emission vehicles.

The White House announced the plans for Biden to set the target of half of all US cars that would be sold by 2030 to become zero-emission vehicles. Biden will be signing an executive order to address the target, and this would include types of electric vehicles. The order will be signed Thursday in another move to address and combat the climate change crisis as well as attempt to outcompete China in the field.

“The President will sign an Executive Order that sets an ambitious new target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery-electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles,” the White House said in a statement.

Three of the country’s major vehicle manufacturers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, all expressed their aspiration to achieve the goal of having 40 to 50 percent of their electric vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2030. Other car manufacturers such as Volvo, BMW, Volkswagen, and Honda also praised the initiative. The United Auto Workers Union, one of the largest unions in the country, also expressed support for the goal.

“The members of the UAW, current and future, are ready to build these electric cars and trucks and the batteries that go in them,” said UAW President Ray Curry in a statement released through the White House. “Our members are America’s secret weapon in winning this global race.”

While most of the major car manufacturers are expected to be present at the event, there was one manufacturer that was evidently absent. The UAW, along with Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors, are expected to be with Biden on Thursday except for Tesla, the manufacturer known for its electric vehicles. Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was pressed on why Tesla was not invited to the clean car event at the White House.

Buttigieg simply replied, “I’m not sure.” Buttigieg then steered away from Tesla and said that the administration is looking forward to making sure Americans drive electric vehicles in the future.