Pete Buttigieg: From a Little Cabinet Secretary to a Rising Star

There has rarely been a time when a cabinet secretary has achieved so little despite having vast resources.

During an appearance on the CBS show “Face the Nation,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg found himself defending the Biden administration’s poor track record in building new electric vehicle charging stations that are crucial for the envisioned EV future.

Host Margaret Brennan questioned how it was possible that, with $7.5 billion allocated for this purpose two years ago, only eight charging stations have been built by the administration.

Not 8,000, or even 80. Just eight.

Buttigieg mentioned President Biden’s plan to construct 500,000 chargers by the end of the decade, and highlighted that “the very first handful of chargers are now already being physically built.”

While it is true that having eight chargers is better than having none, the administration is still far from its goal of 500,000 chargers by quite a margin.

At this pace, it seems as if Emperor Hadrian wouldn’t have completed his wall before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, or that the Hoover Dam would still be under construction to this day.

The administration that adopted “Build Back Better” as its economic agenda slogan seems to struggle with building in reality.

Although the pace of constructing charging stations is expected to increase, the slow start reflects the challenges of trying to enforce a drastic change in transportation norms through government intervention.

Buttigieg claims that “the EV revolution will happen with or without us,” but its progress is currently sluggish.

It appears to be more of a shift in consumer preferences at the high end of the market, particularly among individuals who can afford electric vehicles as secondary or tertiary cars.

There are indications that the adoption of EVs is slowing down, with reports suggesting automakers like Ford have faced difficulties in manufacturing and selling electric cars profitably.

Is that all?

Even Tesla has faced challenges.

One of the reasons for the resistance to EVs is the concept of range anxiety, where individuals fear they won’t find charging stations while on long trips or if they can’t charge at home.

Hence, building a stronger network of charging stations is imperative, but progress has been slow so far.

One hindrance to building back better, or building at all, in the current United States is the unnecessary complexity and regulatory impediments that make the process arduous.

Even when the wellbeing of the planet seems to be at stake, nothing comes easy.

According to a Politico report, states and the charging industry attribute delays mainly to the convoluted new contracting and performance standards required to access federal funds.

The CEO of a charging manufacturer mentioned that “design, engineering, installation, and utility upgrades could prolong the wait by years even after contracts are awarded.”

In addition, the existing charging infrastructure is unreliable and prone to malfunctions.

Comparing this to gas stations, which are abundant and convenient, the disparity is clear.

Oil companies didn’t receive government subsidies to build gas stations at the start of the 20th century, nor were they mandated to provide additional services like free maps, oil changes, or round-the-clock operations.

Undoubtedly, there is a growing niche market for electric cars.

Instead of allowing this market to grow naturally based on consumer preferences and sound business decisions by manufacturers, the Biden administration is attempting to force a transition that is not yet supported by drivers or the necessary infrastructure.

Secretary Buttigieg has been tasked with explaining failures thus far, and it seems like he may have to become accustomed to it.

Twitter: @RichLowry