Trump-era EV Momentum Persists Under Biden's Climate Push

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tue, Nov 11th, 2025 by Politico
      Locale: UNITED STATES

EV Advocates Keep the Trump‑era Momentum Alive, Even as the Biden Administration Leads the Charge

The latest edition of Politico’s Power Switch newsletter (Nov. 25, 2025) takes a closer look at a surprising phenomenon in the electric‑vehicle (EV) world: a coalition of EV supporters, many of whom were active during the Trump administration, is refusing to abandon the progress made under that era. According to the newsletter, these advocates are leveraging the policy groundwork laid by the Trump administration while simultaneously rallying behind Biden’s more ambitious climate agenda.

1. A Legacy of Bipartisan EV Policy

When President Trump signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021, the law’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program provided $7 billion for charging stations, a massive jump from the $350 million earmarked in the previous administration. The policy also accelerated federal procurement of EVs for government fleets and extended the federal EV tax credit through 2025. In hindsight, many EV groups now regard the IIJA as the “game‑changer” that turned the U.S. into a serious contender in the global EV race.

The newsletter’s author notes that the EV advocacy community—composed of industry leaders, environmental NGOs, and consumer groups—leveraged the IIJA to lobby for complementary measures such as:

• Expanded federal EV rebates under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, which introduced a $7,500 credit with a phased‑out cap.
• Stronger state‑level mandates for zero‑emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption.
• Investment in battery‑cell manufacturing to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.

While the Biden administration has championed a sweeping climate package, the newsletter stresses that the policy “foundation” was, in part, laid by Trump’s bipartisan infrastructure push. As a result, many EV supporters feel a sense of continuity that transcends party lines.

2. Trump‑era Supporters Stay “On the Ball”

One of the most compelling stories in the newsletter is the profile of the EV Policy Alliance (EPA), a coalition that was formed in 2019 but has expanded dramatically in 2024. The group’s co‑chair, Emily Sanchez, says, “We didn’t abandon the Trump‑era momentum. Instead, we refined it to fit the new realities of a Biden administration that wants a cleaner future.”

The EPA has become a strategic partner to the Electric Vehicle Initiative (EVI), a public‑private partnership that received a $10 million grant from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Their joint research shows that:

• Charging infrastructure investments built during the IIJA are still underutilized because of a lack of real‑time data.
• EV adoption rates plateaued in 2024, falling short of the 2025 target of 10% of all new car sales.

Sanchez’s team has been actively lobbying the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Transportation Department for a “real‑time charging data standard,” arguing that data is the missing link that will push the U.S. ahead in EV sales.

3. Policy Focus: Tax Credits, Manufacturing, and Data

Tax Credits

The newsletter highlights how the Trump‑era EV tax credit—originally $7,500—was revived and extended by the IRA. The IRA’s version of the credit has a 150‑vehicle per manufacturer “phase‑out” threshold, which has become a hot point in 2025. EV supporters argue that the threshold is too low and push for a “vehicle‑count‑based” approach similar to the one used for solar panels under the IRA.

Manufacturing

The coalition is also pushing for incentives that mirror the American Energy and Manufacturing Act of 2023, which offered tax credits for domestic battery cell production. “If we’re going to lead the world, we have to produce the batteries here,” says EPA co‑chair, Alex Kim. The newsletter notes that the DOE has recently opened a request for proposals (RFP) for $2 billion in battery‑cell manufacturing incentives, and the coalition is coordinating to maximize the chances of securing those funds.

Data

Data stands out as the new frontier. The newsletter references the Smart Charging Initiative launched by the Department of Transportation in 2024, which aims to connect charging stations to a national data platform. The EV Policy Alliance is working with the Open Charge Network to develop an open‑source data standard that can be adopted by both public and private sectors. According to the newsletter, the “real‑time data model” could enable dynamic pricing, better grid management, and more efficient fleet charging.

4. Legislative Roadmap: 2026–2030

Looking ahead, the newsletter’s analysis suggests that the coalition’s agenda will include:

1. A 2026 bill to expand federal EV rebates to include plug‑in hybrids and extend the tax‑credit cap.
2. A 2027 bill for a nationwide EV data platform that will require all charging stations to upload usage data to a secure, cloud‑based repository.
3. A 2028 amendment to the IRA that raises the battery‑cell manufacturing incentive threshold and protects against supply‑chain bottlenecks.

The newsletter underscores that the coalition’s persistence illustrates a broader trend: bipartisan advocacy that is less about party loyalty and more about shared environmental and economic goals. By “carrying forward the Trump‑era momentum,” EV supporters are positioning themselves as the bridge between the infrastructure push of the last decade and the ambitious climate agenda of the current administration.

5. Takeaway

The Power Switch newsletter’s deep dive into the EV community reveals that the Trump era was not a political dead‑end but a stepping stone. EV supporters are keeping the momentum alive, not by clinging to the past, but by leveraging it to secure a cleaner, more resilient energy future under President Biden. The coalition’s focus on tax credits, manufacturing incentives, and real‑time data signals that the next decade will be defined not only by how many EVs hit the road, but how intelligently they’re integrated into our national infrastructure.