A coalition of 17 former military officials — including multiple one, two and three-star officers — have sounded the alarm about the implications of electric vehicle (EV) adoption on U.S. national security. In a letter addressed to President Joe Biden and EPA Director Michael Regan, the veterans expressed concerns that current administration policies incentivizing EV adoption may increase the nation’s reliance on China.
The group asserts that the Biden administration’s actions related to EVs are making the U.S. more vulnerable to political interference and economic manipulations by the Chinese Communist Party.
“We would be exposing our economy and national security interests if we consciously link America’s economic and transportation stability to the enterprise of a country you yourself described as an economic ‘ticking time bomb,’” the veterans wrote to Biden.
The former armed services personnel highlighted Beijing’s dominance in the global EV landscape, being the leading exporter of both electrified vehicles and the materials used in their production. The White House committed to a goal of ensuring that half of all car purchases are electric by 2030. The veterans argued that such an objective is too ambitious and could have severe consequences given China’s influence over the industry.
“This trajectory will only position the U.S. to become more reliant on China for critical minerals and manufacturing that are necessary for the rapid expansion of EV markets this administration envisions,” the veterans wrote. “We do not believe now is the time for us to make ourselves vulnerable to such easy political pressures.”
While acknowledging the potential significance of EVs in the future of U.S. transportation, the veterans urged the Biden administration not to push the transition ahead until the necessary EV infrastructure has been built out domestically.
“There is no doubt EVs will play a significant role in diversifying America’s transportation systems,” they wrote. “Yet we believe your plans will rush our transition to EVs before the infrastructure necessary to support it is in place.”
