The Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has come under fire this week for its “EV Video Challenge,” an initiative offering Americans the chance to win cash prizes totaling $13,500 for submitting videos showcasing their experiences with electric vehicles (EVs). Critics, including the Alliance For Consumers and the American Energy Institute, accuse the EPA of hypocrisy, arguing that the administration is using taxpayer dollars to prop up a propaganda campaign supporting its push for widespread EV adoption.
The video challenge, divided into three categories – personal mobility, electric vehicle, and electric bus – promises cash prizes of $3,000, $1,000, and $500 for the first, second, and third prize winners in each category, respectively. The EPA encourages participants to share their firsthand knowledge and experiences with EVs, emphasizing the benefits of electrified transportation. However, the initiative has faced immediate criticism from various quarters.
Consumer advocacy groups, such as Consumers’ Research, have characterized the move as a desperate attempt to salvage a failing agenda, accusing the Biden administration of using taxpayer dollars to support its ESG push. Will Hild, the executive director of Consumers’ Research, remarked that the initiative was beyond parody and reflective of the administration’s desperation.
.@BigWeekendShow SLAM Biden’s EPA for using tax dollars to fund the #EVVideoChallenge #MyElectricRide initiative to push EVs:@guypbenson: “They’re turning to use our dollars to pay people to post photos to make this idea trend — I don’t think it’s a good use of taxpayer money.” pic.twitter.com/yycRFdQhTK
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) November 13, 2023
Critics also pointed to recent reports of EV battery explosions, with concerns raised about the potential hazards and negative impacts on air quality. Darin Miller, a spokesperson for Sen. Ted Cruz, expressed skepticism about the initiative’s contribution to air quality amid growing concerns about the safety of EVs.
The EPA’s push for EV adoption aligns with President Biden’s goal of ensuring 50% of car purchases are electric by 2030. The administration has implemented stringent regulations, including the recent rules targeting heavy-duty trucks, to promote clean air standards and reduce emissions. However, the efficacy of these measures has been called into question, with critics highlighting the remaining challenges, including the high cost and efficiency issues associated with EVs.
.@DanaPerino calls out the EPA’s #EVVideoChallenge / #MyElectricRide initiative for backfiring on their goal of EV promotion:
“They ended up with all these videos of people saying mine ran out, I got into an accident, I couldn’t do this, or I couldn’t do that…it’s pretty bad.” pic.twitter.com/Sz9f247hbc
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) November 9, 2023
A recent report by the Texas Public Policy Foundation emphasized that despite federal and state incentives, EVs remain more expensive and less efficient than traditional gas-powered vehicles. The report suggests that the true cost of EVs, including regulatory credits, subsidies, and infrastructure costs, is shouldered by gasoline vehicle owners, taxpayers, and utility ratepayers, raising concerns about the fairness of the administration’s push for widespread electrification.
The folks who were on this electric bus that lost power on a hill in San Francisco and then rolled backwards crashing into a bunch of cars had a bad time. #MyElectricRide #EVVideoChallengepic.twitter.com/OmHzMPLxsK
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 8, 2023
