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Landon Combass

Mrs. Diana Watkins

English Composition 1

8 March 2017

Pulling the Plug on Plug-ins and Alternative Fuel Vehicles

On November 8th something happened that none of us expected. The experts said it

wouldnt happen and it did. Donald J. Trump was announced President Elect of the United

States. Now while some rejoice in this string of events, others who believe in climate change are

not so happy but actually scared for our future.

At the end of the first democratic debate the candidates were asked what they believe is

the biggest threat to the United States of America. Trying to appeal to the voters in using scare

tactics 4 out of the 5 candidates said terrorism in the middle east is our biggest threat. The most

favorable candidate in the entire election, said something completely different, something

completely logical and something based completely on the facts. Bernie Sanders said climate

change is our biggest threat because the rising oceans are taking away peoples land, driving

them out of their homes thus helping contribute to the terrorist group ISIS. He said that we must

also leave this planet habitable for our grandchildren. In my view, there wasnt a more correct

answer.

Our president-elect Donald J Trump said climate change is a Chinese hoax with the intent

to destroy the American economy. So president elect Trump will most likely start easing

regulations on automakers. Currently in California, followed by nine other states Automakers are

required to make 15 percent of their sales be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in those states by

2025. Zero emission vehicles are electric vehicles (EV) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCV).
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Currently in California and other states you can get tax incentives up to $7500 off your new ZEV

thanks to the Obama Administatrion.

Beene states that the 2025 fuel economy and greenhouse mandates are the cornerstone

of President Obamas plan to reduce the effects of climate change (6). Automakers are just now

making desirable ZEVs. In the past, automakers only made compliance cars which were

undesirable vehicles with ranges of only 100 miles or less. The sole purpose of compliance cars

is to fit the new mandates in the most minuscule way possible. Compliance Car examples consist

of the Ford Focus Electric, Honda Fit EV, and Chevy Spark EV. Tesla has made EVs a desirable

product which has forced other automakers to start doing the same to remain competitive. We are

just now getting a taste of what a ZEV future could look like.

If president elect Trump pulls the plug on all the hard work the Obama administration has

done with the ZEV mandate, automakers will stop putting money into the field. If the $7500 tax

credit is abolished the ZEV sales will drop and citizens will buy more efficient alternatives like

Hybrids and small conventional internal combustion vehicles. Automakers will be less motivated

to contribute to the already less lucrative business of the ZEV industry, but will come at the cost

of the ability to live on this planet.

As citizens, we must urge President Elect Trump to keep Obama administrations

mandates. We must tell Trump that we believe in facts and we must not lose the ability to live on

our planet because of the greedy fossil fuel industry. Profit must not come before life. We must

write letters to our local, state, and federal officials urging them to not just keep our zero

emission laws but encourage them to expand them. We can also contribute by only purchasing

ZEVs if possible. Tell automakers that we want more ZEVs in the future or they will lose our

business. We are almost past the tipping point when it comes to our environment. As citizens, it
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is our job and responsibility to vote then encourage our officials to do what is best for our

environment, not what is best for our fossil fuel industry.

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Cited

Beene, Ryan. "Automakers Seeking an Easing of Rules under Trump Administration." Plastic

News. N.p., 11 Nov. 2016. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.