Biden’s win more promising for EVs?

US president-elect Joe Biden could be good for e-mobility.

He’s promised to return the US to the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation, told the US automotive industry to step up EV efforts and is expected to improve trade relations with many countries.

Biden first has to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the US but his intention to re-enter the Paris Agreement is “significant” and once he is in office on January 20 he will probably introduce more policies to  stimulate EV and e-mobility uptake, Drive Electric chair Mark Gilbert believes.

“There are encouraging signs,” Gilbert says.

Meanwhile, Gilbert urges the new Labour government to get on with establishing a plan for EV uptake in New Zealand.

“Let’s have a bipartisan discussion around this because transport is very important to every New Zealander, looking from a total mobility view-point.”

He’s concerned, though, that the transport minister (Michael Wood) is listed at 17 on the Cabinet ministerial list and believes the portfolio should be returned to the top five or six.

“I don’t think it’s a good sign.”