- Democrats, Independents and Republicans broadly believe that the federal government should continue to support EVs, according to a new bipartisan poll.
- The vast majority of Republican voters who participated in the poll want EVs to become more affordable, EV jobs to remain in the U.S. and the charging infrastructure to become robust.
- Even then, a majority of Republicans don’t plan on buying an EV in the near term, but support EV-related investments anyway.
A stunning new poll signals a broad shift in the perception of electric vehicles in the U.S. across party lines.
President Trump is pulling back funding for EV infrastructure and has started taking steps to end the $7,500 federal tax credit that makes EVs more affordable. But his own voter base, including four in five Republicans aligned with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, say the U.S. should continue making EVs affordable and expand the country’s charging infrastructure.
The bipartisan survey was conducted by polling firms Meeting Street Insights and Hart Research and jointly commissioned by policy organizations Conservative Energy Network, Centerline Liberties and Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). The firms surveyed 1,015 registered voters nationwide, including 525 voters in 15 congressional districts (Most of which are Republican) that received federal funding to build EV plants under the former Biden administration.
A whopping 80% of respondents who identified as Republicans, including four in five MAGA Republicans, said the U.S. should continue supporting American companies and American workers who build affordable EVs. Instead of these jobs going to China, they want them here in the U.S. About 62%, or three in five respondents, said it’s important that the U.S. beats China in EV manufacturing.
That may sound like a pipe dream at this stage. China is eons ahead of the U.S. in manufacturing capacity and EV technology such as hyper-fast charging and cutting-edge battery chemistries. But it’s a sign that Americans are finally realizing that they’re in the middle of a technology race. One in which their country is losing.
Even though 58% of Republicans said they don’t plan to buy an EV as their next vehicle, 72% of them believe EVs are a boost to the overall auto industry.
Photo by: Chevrolet
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV
The Biden administration’s EV policies are wildly popular, even among Republicans. As many as 72% of all respondents support the $7,500 federal clean vehicle credit that has made EVs cheaper. The credit has reduced the sticker price for several EVs, including all Teslas and many popular cars such as the Chevy Equinox EV, Honda Prologue and Kia EV9.
Here are some key findings from the survey:
- 80%—or four in five—MAGA Republicans support keeping EV jobs in the U.S. instead of conceding to China.
- 85% of survey participants nationwide—including 81% in Republican EV investment districts—say Americans should continue making affordable EVs.
- 72% of Republicans said the federal government should continue to build more EV charging stations.
- 71% of survey participants from congressional districts that received federal funding for EV plants believe the U.S. will fall behind Japan, South Korea and China if investments stop.
- 46% of voters—and 58% of Republicans among them—don’t plan to buy EVs in the short term but support EV investments anyway.
Moreover, 77% of voters, including 63% of Republicans, support rebates that make installation of EV chargers at homes or offices more affordable.
Support for EVs is also strong in congressional districts that have received federal funding for EV infrastructure. The vast majority of these districts are in states that voted for Trump in last year’s presidential elections.
The Hyundai Metaplant near Savannah, Georgia is expected to generate 14,000 full-time jobs and 40,000 direct and indirect jobs. Toyota’s new battery plant in North Carolina, Ford’s Blueoval Battery Park in Michigan and LG Energy Solution’s facility in Arizona are just a few examples among dozens of other projects that have promised to add tens of thousands of well-paying manufacturing jobs in Republican counties.
Hyundai Motor Group Breaks Ground on Metaplant America Dedicated EV and Battery Plant
President Trump went on a tirade against EVs while campaigning for reelection last year. He chastised clean energy investments as the “green new scam” but later softened his stance. It’s worth noting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk donated over $280 million to his campaign efforts. Most recently, he even advertised Teslas on the White House South Lawn. The automaker’s sales are in a free fall and Musk is facing growing anger for gutting government agencies, firing thousands of American workers and for aligning with far-right politics.
The new poll indicates that Republicans might finally be changing their stance on EVs as they’re clearly a net benefit to the U.S., especially in the face of a burgeoning China.
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