U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came under pressure Sunday over the low number of electric vehicle charging stations the Biden administration has deployed across the country over the past three years, and his response drew criticism and ridicule among social media users.
President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill in November 2021, which allocated $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging. Of this amount, $5 billion has been allocated to build a network of chargers along major highways, called the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
During an appearance on CBS News Facing the nation On Sunday, host Margaret Brennan asked Buttigieg, “The Federal Highway Administration says only seven or eight charging stations were produced with a $7.5 billion investment made by taxpayers in 2021. Why isn’t it happening more quickly?”
Buttigieg responded: “So the president’s goal is to have half a million chargers by the end of this decade. Now, in order to make a charger, it’s more than just sticking a little device in the ground. There’s useful business that is.” And also a new category of federal investment, but we’re working with every one of the 50 states, and every single one of them has money ready to do this work.”
He then reiterated Biden’s electric vehicle goal, “Again, by 2030, 500,000 chargers will be built. The first batch of chargers are actually being built right now. But again, these are the absolute first stages of construction coming.”
Newsweek I reached out to the Department of Transportation’s public affairs director for comment via email on Sunday.
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
Following Buttigieg’s comments, he was mocked on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.
“BREAKING – Massive failure by Biden – Only 7 EV charging stations produced in 3 years instead of 50,000 per year to meet target,” wrote Today News Africa’s chief White House correspondent in Washington, Simon Atiba, in an X post.
RNC Research, an [electric vehicle] The charging stations were produced with a $7.5 billion investment made by taxpayers in 2021.
Pete Buttigieg has a really hard time trying to explain why he’s “only 7 or 8 [electric vehicle] The charging stations were produced with a $7.5 billion investment made by taxpayers in 2021.” pic.twitter.com/ajxWUl69R1
– RNC Research (RNCResearch) May 26, 2024
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Steve Guest, former communications adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz, posted on Billion dollars to build it. Chargers.”
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