The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) plans to close its electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and dispose of some or most of its electric vehicles.
This would affect approximately 8,000 charging connectors and thousands of electric vehicles in use, which could call into question the claims of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, regarding the long-term profitability of EVs.
According to a report by The Verge, the decision to close the charging stations would be based on a recent internal communication from the GSA, which states that these chargers are not “critical to the mission.”
Elon Musk is left alone in the fight for the EV
For years, Elon Musk has defended the idea that EVs are more economical to operate and maintain, suggesting that Tesla vehicles could become appreciating assets. However, the “blackout” of the charging infrastructure that the GSA had implemented represents a clear challenge to such arguments.
This move is a significant new blow related to the Trump administration, which had already frozen funds intended for EV charging stations.
The GSA had been implementing a plan to replace more than half of its fleet of approximately 650,000 vehicles with electric ones, following a mandate established during the Biden administration, which envisioned the transition to clean vehicles by 2027.
Experts warn that the operability of charging stations is crucial for the functioning of EVs. Without access to chargers, electric vehicles lose functionality.
This recent decision could signify a shift in the direction of federal policy on clean energy and create a negative impact on the sustainability initiatives that had been previously implemented.