Biden plans to replace federal fleet with US-made electric vehicles



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President Joe Biden has pledged to replace the US government’s fleet of approximately 650,000 vehicles with US-made electric models with the goal of using “ clean energy. ”

Still, he didn’t give a timeline for the fleet replacement – or, most importantly, a price.

Biden said electrifying the U.S. fleet will create jobs for U.S. autoworkers and that it will be a significant mobilization of public investment, especially when paired with a separate executive order “ Buy American ” he signed earlier in the week.

In total, the electrification of the fleet could create a million automotive and clean energy jobs, Biden said.

President Biden said the federal government fleet will be replaced by clean electric vehicles

President Biden says federal government fleet will be replaced with clean electric vehicles

“The federal government has a huge fleet of vehicles, which we’re going to replace with clean electric vehicles – made right here in America by American workers,” Biden said.

The replacement of the fleet could cost $ 20 billion or more, according to Reuters calculations.

It’s a significant task: Of U.S. government vehicles, only 3,215 were electric vehicles as of July 2020, according to government figures.

Biden said he would also close the ‘loopholes’ that allow key parts such as engines, steel and glass to be made overseas for vehicles that still have the cachet of being made in the United States. No more under his new proposal, he said.

The fleet replacement is part of a campaign pledge Biden made during his presidential run and will begin with the replacement of trucks driven by USPS

The fleet replacement is part of a campaign pledge Biden made during his presidential run and will begin with the replacement of trucks driven by USPS

It's unclear if the fleet of Cadillac-made 'Beast' limousines the presidents will travel in will be covered by the 'all-electric' plan

It’s unclear if the fleet of Cadillac-made ‘Beast’ limousines the presidents will travel in will be covered by the ‘all-electric’ plan

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about when Biden plans to replace current vehicles or whether the replacement includes The Beast’s fortified Cadillac limousine fleet in which the president is traveling.

The electrification project is separate from another Biden initiative that was announced: his “ Buy America ” executive order that was signed on Monday does not direct the purchase of electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, in 2019, the U.S. government owned 645,000 vehicles that traveled 4.5 billion miles and consumed 375 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel, according to the General Services Administration (GSA).

They include 245,000 civilian vehicles, 173,000 military vehicles and 225,000 post office vehicles, which traveled 4.5 billion kilometers in 2019.

The U.S. government spent $ 4.4 billion on federal vehicle costs in 2019, the GSA said.

As of 2019, the federal government has over 645,000 vehicles in its fleet, so it will likely take years for a full replacement to occur.  A U.S. Secret Service agent stands next to a limo outside the White House

As of 2019, the federal government has over 645,000 vehicles in its fleet, so it will likely take years for a full replacement to occur. A U.S. Secret Service agent stands next to a limo outside the White House

The first in the Federal fleet of vehicles to be replaced is the current fleet of US Postal Service delivery vehicles – many of which are still the Grumman LLV models that became the post office’s vehicle of choice in the 1980s.

During the campaign, Biden promised to “ make a major federal commitment to purchase clean vehicles for federal, state, tribal, postal and local fleets. ”

He also pledged to create 1 million new jobs in “the US auto industry, national auto supply chains and automotive infrastructure, from parts and materials to electric vehicle charging stations.”

Biden is backing new consumer rebates to encourage replacement of older, less efficient vehicles with newer EVs and pushing manufacturers to build or retool factories to assemble EVs and parts.

Biden promises to build 550,000 electric vehicle charging stations and spend more on clean energy research.

Biden promises to build 550,000 electric vehicle charging stations and spend more on clean energy research.

Biden also pledged to build 550,000 electric vehicle charging stations and spend more on clean energy research.

Automaker GM said it “ is encouraged by President Biden’s commitment to supporting American manufacturing, ” while Ford said: “ President Biden’s early willingness to invest in American manufacturing is critical to the continued success of the US auto industry. ”

Ford recently unveiled an electric version of its Transit vans, and GM just unveiled a new company called BrightDrop focused on electric delivery vehicles.

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