Auto dealers on the front lines of Virginia’s EV mandate support withdrawing from it due to the practical reasons that consumer demand for EVs isn’t sufficient, and the state’s EV charging infrastructure is inadequate. The mandate, therefore, is impractical for Virginia to adopt at this time, and other states and the federal government should reconsider similar stringent EV requirements until these fundamental issues are resolved.
The current gap between EV production and consumer demand, coupled with the lack of comprehensive charging infrastructure, has led to unsold EVs accumulating on dealer lots, driving up costs for small businesses. Consequently, a balanced approach that aligns with market realities and infrastructure capabilities is necessary to ensure a feasible transition to a cleaner vehicle future, making Virginia’s decision to withdraw from the mandate a sensible move for other regions to consider.
