Joyriding Joe: Biden tours the White House in a hybrid Jeep Wrangler

President Joe Biden took a ride in a hybrid Jeep Wrangler around the South Lawn of the White House – as he touted new battery technology entering the electric fleet.

“Did you drive an electric vehicle? The president asked a group of reporters after completing his tour. “You don’t hear anything,” he said.

Clearly in his element, Biden jumped out of the gray jeep and answered several questions from the press.

Asked by DailyMail.com about the language of the new bipartisan infrastructure bill regarding mandatory breathalyzer technology for cars, Biden supported the idea.

“A lot of it would just help the driver,” Biden said. “Because often people have a few drinks and don’t realize it,” he added.

“It’s a good idea, I think,” Biden said.

Earlier, in his remarks to lawmakers, Biden, a car enthusiast, said he told GM chief Mary Barra that when the company finally made an electric Corvette, he wanted to be the first to drive it.

“When they make the first electric Corvette, I can drive it,” he joked.

” Not married ? You think I’m kidding, I’m not kidding!

He also eyed one of the electric vehicles parked outside the White House.

“Do you see that miller over there?” 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds – it’s all electric! ‘ he apologized.

He also spoke at length about the latest moratorium on expulsions from his administration. He explained that he had spoken to a group of constitutional experts whom he had consulted in the past, and once again admitted that some opposed his decision.

He said he left it up to the CDC to make his decision.

“I said ok thanks,” Biden explained. “I cannot guarantee that a court will not find that we do not have this authority,” he added.

Regarding cars, Biden said businesses and workers realize that “this is the future.”

He spoke about the investments of American taxpayers in battery technology over the decades. “We didn’t take advantage of it. We haven’t moved on it. China has moved. China now has the market, ”he said.

Major automakers Ford, Chrysler and Jeep were represented – but not Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who complained the exclusion was odd on Twitter.

The administration did not have an immediate explanation.

“I’m not sure,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNBC on Thursday morning, when asked about Musk’s absence. “But you see so many leaders in the industry.”

“We are moving towards the future, it is everywhere in the market. I don’t want there to be a perception that it’s a luxury thing, ”Buttigieg said of owning an electric car.

The United States is home to Tesla, a world leader in electric cars, but it has been slow to adopt such vehicles, especially compared to China or Europe.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday it was because Tesla was not unionized.

Asked about Musk’s absence, she said all Big Three automakers and senior United Auto Workers officials would be in attendance at the event.

And when asked if it was because Tesla was not a union store, Psaki replied, “These are the United Auto Workers’ three biggest employers, so I’ll let you draw your own conclusion. . “

The 50 percent target is non-binding and primarily symbolic, but it defines the expectation for U.S. automakers to begin the transition from building gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles.

It includes battery electric vehicles, rechargeable hybrids or fuel cell electric vehicles. Biden will also call for the nation’s first-ever network of electric vehicle charging stations.

“What we are hearing across the board is a consensus on where this industry is heading and a rally around the recognition that this is the moment of truth – not just for climate action, for action. economic as well, “said a senior administration official who briefed reporters on a call.

The president has already won the support of the unions.

“UAW members, current and future, stand ready to build these electric cars and trucks and the batteries that go into them,” President Ray Curry said in a White House statement.

“Our members are America’s secret weapon in winning this global race.”

And America’s Big Three automakers – GM, Ford and Stellantis – said the deal reflected their “commitment to be leaders in America’s transition to electric vehicles.”

However, in their joint statement, they also stressed that they needed federal help to achieve this.

“This represents a radical change from the American market today, which can only be achieved with the timely deployment of all the electrification policies to which the administration has committed in the plan. Build Back Better, ”they said.

The percentage improvements in emissions and fuel economy that Biden’s new rules will require were not immediately clear.

A White House backgrounder said the administration would leave in place Trump standards for miles per gallon through vehicle model year 2024 and for greenhouse gas emissions through model year 2023.

The strategy is part of Biden’s plan to tackle climate change. The White House noted that the ordinance put the nation on track to meet Biden’s target of “50 to 52 percent net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the economy as a whole below. from 2005 levels to 2030 “.