Reference News, February 11 report - According to Reuters, on February 10, the U.S. Department of Transportation stated that it plans to increase the percentage of domestically manufactured components in federally funded electric vehicle charging stations from 55% to 100%, and require that charging station equipment be produced in the United States, which may pose a significant obstacle to the use of related funds.
The Biden administration had previously agreed to exempt some "Buy American" requirements for a $5 billion government-funded project in 2023 to accelerate the deployment of charging stations.
Once the revised measures are finalized, they will take effect immediately. The U.S. Department of Transportation stated that it believes manufacturers are capable of producing electric vehicle charging equipment domestically, and this move will "protect American citizens from threats posed by foreign-made electric vehicle charger components with cybersecurity vulnerabilities."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that increasing the requirement for domestically produced components will "strengthen domestic manufacturing, create new American jobs, enhance the competitiveness of American businesses, and address potential national security risks."
However, the environmental organization Mountain Club said that this proposal is another malicious move by the Trump administration to sabotage the project, which could prevent the use of related funds.
The organization stated: "This will hinder the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, cause the United States to fall further behind in this area, and deprive communities of access to clean, affordable transportation options."
Last month, a U.S. federal district court judge, Tana Lin, ruled that the Trump administration's suspension of funding for the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure was illegal. This ruling was a victory for the 20 Democratic-led states that had filed a lawsuit against it. (Translated by Wu Mei)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7605493921728201225/
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