CT Politicians Should Keep Their Hands Off Our Gas-Powered Vehicles

Many Connecticut legislators are scheming to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles in our state. Their goal is to mandate electric vehicles and limit what kind of car, van, or truck we can own and drive. What are they thinking in Hartford?

These meddling and out of touch politicians have no business banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles in Connecticut.

High sticker price, difficulties of charging electric vehicles (EVs) at failing charging stations during cold snaps, limited driving distance – these are just a few of the reasons many drivers have no interest is owning an EV. While EVs may be an expensive choice for some, they are not ready for mass use, certainly not as a government mandate. Connecticut drivers – not Hartford politicians - should have the freedom to decide for themselves what mode of transportation works best for them.

Auto companies are now backing away from prior commitments (and tax subsidies) made to build EVs. Without continued, massive taxpayer handouts to manufacturers and consumers, EVs would be unaffordable for most drivers. Hertz, struggling to emerge from bankruptcy, pledged to buy 100,000 Tesla EVs, using tax subsidies to support that pledge. Their customers have resisted renting these cars. Higher insurance and repair costs for EVs have added to the business losses for Hertz.

Naïve and extremist EV proponents who would coerce us into using unaffordable and unreliable EVs that we don’t want or need, tout them as a panacea for clean air. However, when the entire supply chain for manufacturing of EVs and their batteries is considered, there is no net environmental gain. Carbon-based fuels generate the electricity to charge the batteries. The mining and processing of lithium and cobalt generate significant pollutants. Coupled with the geopolitical aspects of the international supply chain with the real threat of embargoes of critical minerals, the negatives far outweigh the positives. If those facts aren’t enough, consider that in Connecticut, there will be no measurable impact on global emissions given that we are only one percent of the US population – and our regions electrical grid is already maxed out.

The citizens of Connecticut should fight back against these proposed mandates before it’s too late. I have a simple, common-sense message for our state legislators: “keep your hands off our gas-powered vehicles.”

In rejecting EV mandates, we should remind our elected representatives that they work for us.

Elain Cariati is the Republican candidate for State Senator in the 13th District, which includes Cheshire, Meriden, Middlefield, and Middletown