Tesla lithium refinery Texas
Conservative voters in the United States are increasingly making the switch to electric vehicles. In some conservative areas, EV uptake is much higher than the national average.
According to The Washington Post, EV uptake in the Republican stronghold of Plano in Texas reached 8.7% in 2022, 2.5% than the national average of 6.2%. In neighbouring Denton County, also a majority Republican voting area, EV market share was 7.3%
The Washington Post spoke to some EV owners at charging stations in the area to learn about why they decided to make the switch. While some expressed concerns around climate change, most said they were attracted by the performance and technology, and the convenience and savings on fuel.
“I used to drive a Mercedes-Benz SUV and I went to go fill up my gas tank and it was over $4 for premium gas.” Kate Allen told The Washington Post while charging her Tesla Model 3.
“So I went the very next day, and I traded it in for an electric vehicle.”
The reduced emissions was a “bonus”, said Allen.
Another EV owner, Former Marine and Republican voter Tony Federico, who is now head of the local Tesla Owners Club, said is was about his “pocketbook” and environmental concerns were “not really” on his radar.
S&P EV data shows that the Trump voting counties of Florida’s St. Johns County, Indiana’s Hamilton County, New Jersey’s seaside Monmouth County and California’s Kern County are all areas that voted for Trump in the 2020 election but have higher EV uptake rates than the national average.
The Washington Post says some republican lawmakers who have historically supported the oil and gas industry are now starting to sponsor bills that favour EVs in part because their constituents are buying them.
Politcal stereotypes around EVs are no longer relevant
Electric vehicles have long been weaponised by conservative politicians for political gain. In Australia during the 2019 federal election we saw then Prime Minister Scott Morrison run a fear campaign around EVs to attack opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten’s election promise of 50% EV market share by 2030.
2019 election headline in the Guardian
“It’s not going to tow your trailer. It’s not going to tow your boat. It’s not going to get you out to your favourite camping spot with your family,” said Morrison at the time.
“Bill Shorten wants to end the weekend when it comes to his policy on electric vehicles”
During the campaign then Minister for Small Business Michaelia Cash continued the EV scare campaign implying that tradespeople would be forced to drive EVs under a Shorten government.
“What I worry about for people like Johnny is that the car he is driving today, if a Labour Government is ever elected, will not be the car he is driving tomorrow,” said Cash during the 2019 campaign.
“In fact, if you look behind this at all of these apprentices here 50% of those apprentices will be driving an electric vehicle under Bill Shorten. We are going to stand by our tradies and we’re going to save their utes”
Former small business minister Michalia Cash speaking on EVs during 2019 election. Source: ABC
Before the 2019 election EV uptake in Australia was just 0.2%. Four years on and it now seems absurd to suggest Australia wouldn’t hit 50% by 2030 with national EV uptake reaching almost 8% in May this year and as high as 20% in the ACT.
Like everyone else, tradespeople love electric vehicles. Something I experienced first hand during my series Coal Miners Driving Teslas when I took miners and tradespeople from regional Australia for a test drive in a Model 3 performance.
I met Dan at a petrol station in Hobart.
He was maintaining the fuel pumps with his work colleagues.
Last election the Morrison government ran a fear campaign around EVs targeting tradespeople.
Truth is tradies love EVs and are excited about the clean tech revolution. pic.twitter.com/usulKOh1d1
— Daniel Bleakley (@DanielBleakley) May 10, 2022
With electric vehicle uptake growing rapidly in conservative voting areas around the world, voters now know that an electric future is a good one and politicians are realising pro-EV policy is a vote winner.
Keyword: Conservative voters are switching to EVs faster than the national average