EV MANDATES LIMIT CHOICE, RAISE COSTS Speaker: Congressman Doug LaMalfa Publication: Congressional Record Date: 18 September 2024 Subject: American Government , Electric Vehicles

(Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, an electric vehicle mandate presents serious challenges for our economy, families, and everyday life. While these vehicles are often promoted as the future, they come with significant limitations and costs.

Long-distance travel can be difficult due to fewer charging stations than are needed, by far, and longer refueling times, rather than just the few minutes it takes to fill up with gasoline or diesel, this compared to gas-powered cars.

Also, we have this futile program with the Federal Government that has so far put aside $8 billion a while back, and what have we got of it? Seven charging stations. There might be more by now, but it is pathetic.

This is particularly problematic in rural areas like I represent where there isn't the infrastructure at all to have the electricity. The amount of load the power lines would need to carry isn't even there yet.

How are you supposed to travel outside of a city area? Maybe it could just be a city mandate. Who knows?

They have high upfront costs and horrifically high costs when you go to replace the batteries. Heaven knows, we have seen what happens when they catch fire. You can't put them out.

We need not force these vehicles on a public that does not want to buy them.