Joe Biden is ambitious claim of building 500,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across America as a result of the bipartisan infrastructure bill has been met with scrutiny and proven to be mostly false.
By May 2024, only seven or eight of these charging stations had been completed, a stark contrast to the administration's commitments.
During his speech at the Democratic National Convention, Biden credited his administration with spearheading a massive build-out of electric vehicle infrastructure, stating, “Creating hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs for working Americans, including the IBEW installing 500,000-500,000 charging stations across America.” This statement, however, does not reflect the current reality.
Joe Biden boasts of building 500,000 electric vehicle charging points.
As of May, $7.5 billion has been spent and only SEVEN chargers have been built. pic.twitter.com/nd83euSDZ4
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 20, 2024
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The bipartisan infrastructure bill, passed two and a half years ago, earmarked $7.5 billion specifically for developing a national network of electric vehicle charging stations.
The administration's goal was to establish 500,000 of these facilities. However, as recent reports and monitoring confirm, the progress achieved so far is minimal, with only seven or eight operational stations.
The issue was highlighted during a May interview on CBS News' “Face the Nation,” where Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was asked for answers about the wide discrepancy between the administration's ambitious claims and actual achievements.
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) May 26, 2024
Buttigieg reassured the public that the remaining stations are expected to be completed by 2030. However, this timetable and the feasibility of this promise have been met with skepticism.
This significant shortfall raises questions about the efficiency and execution of infrastructure initiatives under the Biden-Harris administration. Critics argue that this situation reflects other broken promises, such as Kamala Harris' promise to add 3 million additional homes in four years, a goal that is still far from being met.
Kamala Harris promises to build 3 million new homes in 4 years.
It took him 3 years and 7.5 billion dollars to build 8 electric vehicle charging stations… 🤪pic.twitter.com/jnrhirnEs1 https://t.co/mGPiWxF7i7
— FinanceLancelot (@FinanceLancelot) August 16, 2024
The issue of electric vehicle charging stations is particularly notable because it touches not only on environmental and energy policy, but also on the administration's ability to carry out key infrastructure projects that are supposed to boost job creation and technological progress.
Given this context, it is clear that Joe Biden's claim to have nearly completed a vast network of electric vehicle charging stations is premature. The onus to deliver on that promise may fall to his successor, whether it's Harris, former President Donald Trump or another future leader.