Does the Government Really Want Us to buy These Electric Vehicles?

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New electric vehicles for personal use are the centerpiece of the U.S. climate strategy. To meet climate targets, zero-emission vehicles will need to dominate new sales for most types of vehicles by the early 2030s — according to the long-term strategy of the United States, “Pathways to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission by 2050.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates air quality emissions standards for vehicles, which are only possible to meet by way of significant EV adoption, could prevent 40,000 premature deaths, 34,000 hospitalizations, and 4.8 million work days lost annually.

How Will US Vehicle Emissions Goals Be Met?

A certification process for new vehicles is one way the EPA will attempt to grow a more climate-positive transportation sector. The EPA rates every new car, truck, and SUV for greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions on scales of 1-10, every model year. The “SmartWay” designation is awarded to vehicles with significantly higher combined scores than the average vehicle, and the “SmartWay Elite” designation is given to vehicles that attain the highest scores on both scales.

How well are vehicles on the market passing environmental-performance reviews? The SmartWay program looks at the entire vehicle fleet of new cars and certifies the 20% lowest-emitting passenger vehicles each model year. However, there are questionable vehicle options even within that high-performing section of the U.S. vehicle fleet.

For example, the EPA gave perfect air pollution and greenhouse gas scores to these eight electric GMC Hummers, each receiving the “elite” designation. Although the EV Hummer may have come a long way from the famous, military-styled, gas-guzzler it is known as, it certainly has among the poorest MPGe of any EV on sale today. The Audi Q4 40 e-tron (33 combined MPGe) and the Cruise Origin (42 combined MPGe) are the only “elite” vehicles with a lower MPGe than the EV Hummer models.

8 EV Hummers With Perfect Scores from the EPA

Model	City MPGe	Highway MPGe	Combined MPGe
GMC Hummer EV Pickup with mud-terrain tires	51	43	47
GMC Hummer EV SUV with mud-terrain tires	51	43	47
GMC Hummer EV Pickup with mud-terrain tires	55	45	50
GMC Hummer EV SUV with mud-terrain tires	55	45	50
GMC Hummer EV SUV	56	46	51
GMC Hummer EV Pickup	58	46	52
GMC Hummer EV Pickup	59	48	53
GMC Hummer EV SUV	59	48	53

The only way the EV Hummer could ever be environmentally-friendly compared with the average vehicle is if it sat in a parking spot and was never driven. Mosquitos and helicopters both fly, but they are not the same. The EV Hummer weighs over 9,000 pounds, more than the average ambulance, an above-average hippopotamus, or a fully-loaded 9-foot cargo van. To transport that weight, the EV Hummer needs a 3,000 pound battery – about the weight of an entire Honda Civic. When resources like lithium needed to manufacture car batteries are already scarce, manufacturing batteries for this purpose raises costs associated with electrifying the transportation sector much more than necessary.

Therefore, electrifying just any vehicle and presenting it as progress seems counter-productive. Should EV Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royce Phantoms, Cadillacs, and other inefficient vehicles also join the fray?

Vehicles With the Lowest Combined MPG

Vehicle	Specifications	Combined MPG
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 4matic Plus	4.0 L, 8 cyl, Automatic 9-spd, Turbo	17
Lamborghini Urus Performante	4.0 L, 8 cyl, Automatic (S8), Turbo	16
Bentley Continental GT	6.0 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (AM-S8), Turbo	15
Bentley Flying Spur	6.0 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (AM-S8), Turbo	15
Cadillac CT5 V	6.2 L, 8 cyl, Manual 6-spd, Supercharger	15
Bentley Continental GTC	6.0 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (AM-S8), Turbo	14
Rolls-Royce Ghost	6.6 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8)	14
Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge	6.6 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8)	14
Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended	6.6 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8)	14
Rolls-Royce Phantom	6.7 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8)	14
Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended	6.7 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8)	14
Rolls-Royce Cullinan	6.7 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8), Turbo	14
Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge	6.7 L, 12 cyl, Automatic (S8), Turbo	14
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport	8.0 L, 16 cyl, Automatic (AM-S7), Turbo	9

For what it’s worth, the vehicles on the above list have no chance of passing any of the EPA’s environmental performance tests. At the top of the EPA’s list are these EVs — each with 100 MPGe or higher.

24 EVs With 100 Combined MPGe and Higher

Model	Drive	Vehicle Class	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MGP
HYUNDAI Ioniq 6 Long range RWD (18” Wheels)	2WD	midsize car	153	127	140
LUCID Air Pure RWD w/19″ wheels	2WD	large car	140	134	137
HYUNDAI Ioniq 6 Standard Range RWD	2WD	midsize car	151	120	135
LUCID Air Pure RWD w/20″ wheels	2WD	large car	134	126	130
HYUNDAI Ioniq 6 Long range AWD (18” Wheels)	4WD	midsize car	130	111	121
BMW i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe (18” Wheels)	2WD	small car	122	119	120
HYUNDAI Kona Electric Standard Range	2WD	small SUV	131	105	118
HYUNDAI Ioniq 6 Long range RWD (20” Wheels)	2WD	midsize car	129	105	117
KIA EV6 Long Range	2WD	small SUV	134	101	117
KIA EV6 Standard Range	2WD	small SUV	136	100	117
HYUNDAI Kona Electric Long Range	2WD	small SUV	129	103	116
POLESTAR 2 Single Motor (19 Inch Wheels)	2WD	midsize car	124	106	115
KIA Niro Electric	2WD	small SUV	126	101	113
GENESIS GV60 Standard	2WD	small SUV	125	99	112
POLESTAR 2 Single Motor (20 Inch Wheels)	2WD	midsize car	119	102	111
NISSAN Leaf	2WD	midsize car	123	99	111
BMW i4 eDrive 35 Gran Coupe (19” Wheels)	2WD	small car	111	107	110
MINI Cooper SE Hardtop	2WD	small car	119	100	110
BMW i4 xDrive40 Gran Coupe (18” Wheels)	4WD	small car	107	111	109
BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (18″ Wheels)	2WD	small car	109	108	109
POLESTAR 2 Dual Motor (19 Inch Wheels)	4WD	midsize car	112	100	106
BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan (19” Wheels)	2WD	small car	104	105	105
LUCID Air Sapphire AWD	4WD	large car	108	101	105
BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (19″ Wheels)	2WD	small car	100	99	100

The EPA’s review process, government subsidies and incentives programs rolling out across the nation, and commitments by car manufacturers, may help the U.S. take major steps towards EV adoption – but, much larger steps are needed in the face of all sorts of obstacles. One notable hindrance is the lack of enthusiasm for EVs within the auto industry. According to Automotive News, close to 4,000 auto dealers have sent a letter to President Biden asking him to slow EV regulations intended to speed-up EV adoption. Here are some more reasons to feel sorry for car dealers.