Seemingly lost in much of the political chatter during the Democratic debates and primaries is a push by some candidates, including the notable contenders former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders – to increase adoption of electric vehicles.
That debate could provide a spark for ETFs, such as the Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (NASDAQ: DRIV). DRIV seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Solactive Autonomous & Electric Vehicles Index.
“Biden wants the U.S. to build 500,000 new public EV charging outlets by the end of 2030 and, if elected, would also restore the full federal tax credit for EV consumers and develop new fuel economy standards going beyond what the Obama administration put in place, according to his campaign website,” reports S&P Global Market Intelligence. “Sanders wants 100% of new vehicles to be electric by 2030 and would also invest in research to reduce the cost of EVs, build a modern smart grid and invest in a nationwide EV charging network, according to his campaign website.”
Global automotive industry observers believe electric vehicles will reach comparable price points to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles sometime in the next several years, making it more compelling for drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
Political Horsepower
“The Democratic plans run in stark contrast to positions held by President Donald Trump, who has proposed eliminating the federal EV tax credit that gives consumers up to $7,500 and revoked California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards,” according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
EV adoptions are likely to accelerate as a result of EVs becoming more economical than gas-powered cars and as a result of pro-climate regulatory changes pushing to ban gas-powered cars. However, snafus in battery production must be addressed in order for the EV boom to continue blossoming.
“Biden’s EV plans lack details and might not be a big enough push for the industry, whereas Sanders’ plans could have a difficult time passing through Congress, according to experts. EV policies alone are unlikely to sway voters but could give the candidates a boost as part of broader platforms centered on environmental and climate change issues, experts said,” notes S&P Global Market Intelligence.
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