This story was originally published byGrist.
Along with apple pie, baseball, and tipping, the automobile is classically American.
The conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm© Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Why is the Biden administration providing this funding?
Why is it important to the DOE that electric vehicles are made domestically?
Were competing globally, obviously with China.
And we want to make these products here.
Some of this money is going toward electric buses.
Why is it critical to get more of those on the road?
A.Diesel particulates are not healthy for kids increased asthma, other very serious health impacts.
So having an electric bus, which is quiet and clean and healthy, is wonderful for kids.
Its wonderful for fighting climate change.
Its wonderful for communities, and now it is also wonderful for job creation.
How is the Biden administration trying to boost the demand for EVs?
A.Were seeing an increase in demand.
On top of that, the administration is working on making sure that that demand continues.
So how do you do that?
By reducing the price.
Since the president has taken office, the number of publicly available chargers has doubled.
The goal is to get to 500,000 of them by 2030.
Were well on track to do that.
Do you have a response to that?
We will have enough generation capacity for the electrification of transportation.
In that case, EVs can actually be an asset on the grid, not a liability.
I was curious how they were chosen and why now, just before the election?
A.This does not involve the election.
A lot of these went to historical automaking communities, because thats what this was geared toward.
Q.Republicans have been making aneffort to slow EV adoption.
Could they target this sort of funding?
And if theres another Trump administration, would they also be able to reverse any of this?
I mean, people are being hired.
Its a really good thing across the country.
This article originally appeared inGristathttps://grist.org/energy/1-7-billion-american-made-evs-explained-secretary-energy/.
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