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By Chrystal Blair
October 30, 2024
Advocates of electric vehicles are countering what they call misleading claims about the effects of EV production in Michigan.
Critics of electric vehicles argued prioritizing EV production could harm traditional auto manufacturing jobs, and said the focus should be on safeguarding such roles and strengthening U.S. control within the auto industry.
David Kieve, president of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, said EV policies have already generated billions in investments and promise to create more high-paying jobs in Michigan.
“I think one of the things that we’ve been particularly focused on is the GM Lansing Grand River Plant,” Kieve pointed out. “These aren’t jobs that might come at some point in the future, these are current jobs that are here right now.”
Opponents of the electric vehicle trend also warn more EV projects risk making the Great Lakes State reliant on foreign investments tied to China, raising economic and security issues.
Kieve emphasized Michigan, known for “putting the world on wheels,” should not view EV production as a lost cause because China has a head start. He called that view “defeatist,” among other things.
“It sells short Michigan autoworkers’ ability to compete against the rest of the world, including against China,” Kieve argued.
He also noted traditional vehicle pollution affects lower-income and minority communities the most, giving them the most to gain from EVs, in terms of cleaner air and reduced health and vehicle maintenance costs. Michigan has about 43,000 registered EVs on the road, fewer than the 60,000 originally projected by this time by state officials.