Electric Vehicles: 

It is well known that electric cars have become extremely popular over the last few decades. Many already big car brands have started selling electric cars, and some new car manufacturers have come onto the market to specialize in electric cars. Hybrid cars have also become a popular option with their ability to use gas and electric power. Student Matthew Volpe says, “I feel like over the last few years, I have seen more and more cars in my neighborhood and in Hingham.”

Previous Politics:

During Biden’s time in office, his administration was all in on electric vehicles. He spent millions on charging infrastructure and tax credits up to about $7500 for owning an electric vehicle. His ultimate goal was to aim for over 50% of new car sales to be electric cars by 2030. An extreme goal that would not be carried over by the next president. CNN’s Zachary Wolf states that the Trump administration “is all but hostile to them” (Electric Vehicles).

Tariffs:

Tariffs have recently been placed on car parts. This causes the overall cost of production to increase, thus making car prices significantly more expensive. Cars can become thousands of dollars more expensive than before due to tariffs. However, this does benefit United States car manufacturers because they will not have tariffs on their parts if they are made in America, so in turn, the car prices will be lower than imported cars. Tariffs also affect American car companies negatively because they put overall strain on the market, and if a company imports a lot of parts, its cost of production would also increase.

Future:

In the future, higher oil prices will increase the demand for electric cars. Now, electric cars can be considered an investment for the future. Paying for the car and charger will most likely save you money over time instead of paying for gasoline for years. Due to tariffs, more cars will be created in the United States, and the American car industry will have an advantage for now. Overall, the industry is becoming more balanced between gas and electric cars. When asked what the future of the American automobile industry will hold, student Colin Garrity said, “I think in the future people will invest in electric cars in order to save money and improve the environment.”