Trump Calls EV Range Anxiety a “Disease” in Las Vegas Rant

During a speech at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump labeled electric-vehicle range anxiety as “a disease,” claiming it was a condition afflicting EV drivers who worry about charging availability even when their battery is still three-quarters full. Trump also repeated his assertion that he had “ended the electric mandate,” falsely suggesting that federal policy would have forced all Americans to switch to EVs “within a very short period of time.” In reality, no federal rule ever mandated the purchase of an electric vehicle. The latest data from Kelley Blue Book shows EVs accounted for 5.8 percent of U.S. vehicle sales in the second quarter, down from a 2025 peak, reflecting a sharp market correction that automakers are now addressing. Trump also inaccurately stated that EVs make up 7 percent of U.S. sales. The Department of Energy reports more than 250,000 public charging ports nationwide, though accessibility remains uneven, particularly outside major cities and across rural highways. While EVs may not suit everyone—especially apartment dwellers without reliable home charging, rural drivers, or those who frequently tow heavy loads—they remain a viable option for many, particularly those with home charging access. Trump’s recent executive order targeted emissions rules, subsidies, and California’s emissions waiver, not a retail mandate forcing consumers to buy EVs. The $7,500 federal EV tax credit, which Trump ended, had previously supported EV adoption, contributing to the market slowdown.