Rep. Mike Kelly Takes the Gloves Off During OGR Hearing, Continues Fight to End Electric Vehicle Subsidies

“We are not some benevolent monarchy that showers favors on people. We take it out of hardworking American taxpayers’ pockets and then we decide who gets it.”

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) continued his call to end electric vehicle subsidies during today’s House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending hearing titled: “Volt Vehicle Fire: What did NHTSA Know and When Did They Know It?”

The hearing examined safety issues surrounding the lithium-ion battery system of the Volt, an electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors, and similar safety concerns of advanced vehicle technologies.  On November 25, 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation after reporting that the Volt’s lithium-ion battery caught on fire weeks after it was subjected to a government crash test. This was the third recorded fire occurring in Volt batteries damaged during crash simulations since the car came on the market early this year. The first fire took place on May 12, 2011. 

The hearing included testimony from NHTSA Administrator David Strickland as well as Daniel F. Akerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the General Motors Company.

Last month, Rep. Kelly introduced legislation (H.R. 3768) that would end the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit, arguing that our nation, which is more than $15 trillion in debt, can  no longer afford to subsidize a product that lacks market demand and can be just as easily incentivized through the private sector.

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