From Nathan Dombeck

Janesville

To the Editor:

The irony is delicious. The Trump administration has done everything in its power to slow the electrification of transport, rolling back IRA-era electric vehicle (EV) subsidies, slashing funding for EV charging station deployment, and incentivizing car manufacturers to pull back on EV production plans. And yet, the self-inflicted wounds caused by Trump’s war of choice with Iran may reverse everything the president has tried to do in the EV sector.

Interest in electric vehicles is surging worldwide, as ordinary people realize that EVs help them break free of the stranglehold of oil price fluctuations and the global machinations of warmongers. Data shows Tesla selling more in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025; used EV sales in the US are up by 12% in the first quarter of the year; there is a 36% jump in web traffic searching for electric vehicles; the UK is reporting their highest level of battery-electric vehicle sales ever.

As a side bonus, EVs are associated 48% lower emissions throughout their lifecycle compared to a combustion engine and require much less maintenance with fewer moving parts. Perhaps we should be grateful to Mr Trump for accomplishing everything President Biden was unable to do to accelerate EV adoption — whether intentional or not!