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This Election Day, remember which party ran against EVs and tethered us all to the gas pump
On US midterm Election Day, petrol averaged $4.12 a gallon and diesel $6.28, both described in the article as records for an Election Day. The article argues that President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans weakened support for electric vehicles, leaving drivers more exposed to fuel price spikes during an energy crisis.
Over the previous two years, the administration and Republicans had removed or allowed to lapse EV incentives, frozen charging infrastructure funding and rolled back fuel economy standards. The federal clean vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500 is no longer available, while the average price of a new vehicle with a plug remained above $50,000. The article also reports that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve held 282.2 million barrels, its lowest level in 44 years, and says a return of the former tax credits is unlikely even if Democrats regain Congress.
In short
- Election Day petrol averaged $4.12 a gallon.
- The federal $7,500 clean vehicle credit is gone.
- The article links weaker EV support to greater exposure to fuel shocks.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The article’s case is that ending EV incentives, pausing charging investment and weakening fuel economy rules make it harder for drivers to switch away from petrol, leaving households more exposed when fuel prices rise. Supporters of this view see public investment and temporary tax credits as ways to expand consumer choice, build a charging network and reduce dependence on volatile oil markets.
The case against
A reasonable counterargument is that EV subsidies and charging programmes can impose substantial costs on taxpayers while benefiting buyers who can afford expensive new vehicles; the article itself notes that plug-in models still average more than $50,000. Critics may argue that consumers should choose vehicles without federal direction, that fuel prices reflect global market forces rather than one party’s policies, and that policy should prioritise affordable, reliable energy over a rapid transition.
Explained simply
Electric vehicles run on rechargeable batteries, while conventional cars use petrol or diesel. Their costs can differ: EVs often have higher purchase prices, but they do not need liquid fuel, so their drivers are less directly affected by petrol and diesel price rises.
In the US, federal policy has shaped the cost and availability of EVs through tax credits for buyers, funding for charging stations and rules on vehicle fuel economy. Congress passes federal laws, while the president’s administration oversees many programmes and regulations; the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a government stockpile of oil intended for emergencies.
These choices matter because transport depends heavily on oil, whose prices can rise during supply disruptions. The debate is about how policy should balance the cost of changing vehicles and building charging networks against fuel use and exposure to oil-market shocks.
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