Oil industry pushes back against Biden’s EV policies with new ad in swing states

The oil industry voiced its opposition to the Biden administration’s push for electric vehicles (EVs) with a new advertisement from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM). The trade group, which includes prominent members such as ExxonMobil, Chevron and Phillips 66, invested millions to air this ad in key swing states ahead of the 2024 election.

“President Biden is banning most new gas cars, putting our freedom to choose what to drive in the rearview mirror,” the ad tells voters. “With the challenges ahead, we can’t leave our choices, our economic strength and our national security in the rearview mirror.”

The AFPM’s campaign aims to sway public opinion against President Biden’s vehicle emissions regulations, which the Biden administration described as the “strongest-ever pollution standards for cars.” Although the new standards do not constitute an outright ban on gas-powered cars, as the ad suggests, they do outline a path towards increased adoption of electric vehicles.

Under these rules, automakers are given a transition period until 2032. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) projects that by enforcing these regulations, EVs could account for up to 56% of new passenger cars and trucks between 2030 and 2032.

The finalized regulations are actually less stringent than earlier proposals, reflecting successful lobbying efforts by automakers, car dealers and the United Auto Workers union. These groups advocated for a more gradual transition to an all-electric fleet to allow more compliance flexibility.

Despite these concessions, key players in the oil industry argue that the regulations still go too far. AFPM is warning voters of potential negative consequences the trade group believes will arise from this shift towards electric vehicles.

“EPA’s now-final light-duty vehicle regulation is designed to ban most new gas cars simply because the Biden administration thinks consumers aren’t adopting EV’s fast enough,” Chet Thompson, AFPM president and CEO, said in a statement. “This regulation is bad for consumers and their pocketbooks; it’s bad for our energy and national security, and it will have costly and irresponsible repercussions across the U.S. economy.”