Roger Penske Leads the Charge Against Government’s EV Mandate Amid Massive Pushback From NASCAR World

The automotive industry in the United States is currently undergoing a major overhaul. With respect to environmental concerns, the US government is working round the clock to reduce its carbon footprint. One of the steps taken is pushing the country towards increasing electric vehicle usage. But NASCAR, whose heart beats in fuelled car racing, is not too happy about it. And that includes Roger Penske who believes “renewable fuels are key.”

In a recent interview with The Detroit News, he shared his thoughts on the electric revolution. The interviewer pointed out that the EV mandate is enormous, inviting protests from car unions and dealers. Penske pointed out it may be a lot to digest for consumers given the logistics associated with it.

Penske said, “Electrification certainly has slowed (but) California and other states have made mandates coming up very quickly. Today, the consumer really is not ready for electrification. The infrastructure, the cost, the range — all of these things seem to be stumbling blocks.”

Penske further took a page out of his own business to support his stance. “Doing business as a dealer across the United States — 50% of our EVs we sold in California. And 90% of them were lease. So there’s a lot of work that has to be done. I think we have to push that EV mandate out. I think renewable fuels are key for us as we go forward.”

The law is set to relax regulations regarding tailpipe emissions for electric vehicles. EV manufacturers will get more flexibility to incentivize increased production to woo more customers. But people are not yet ready for such a major shift from combustion engine vehicles.

Penske’s contribution to the automotive industry is substantial. Hence, it is only natural that his sentiments would also balloon at the hint of a dynamic shift from fuel-based to electricity-based driving.

Other NASCAR hotshots have also agreed that electric vehicles may not be the path forward for car racing. Instead, other alternatives to coal, oil, and gas may be game-changers.

NASCAR’s future may not be geared toward an all-electric future

NASCAR has already made its mark in the EV industry. The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum saw a unique exhibition. The first all-electric racecar of the series was showcased with driver David Ragan behind the wheel. Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, and other brands have been closely working on their own electric models. But it would be hard to topple 75 years of V-8 racing.

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Former Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has foreseen that the electric market will not fare well for vehicles. His stance is that fully electric vehicles will never account for more than 30% of world automotive sales.

He said that instead, “hybrid vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and hydrogen combustion engine vehicles will still constitute 70% of the automotive market.”

Encouraging a shift towards cleaner mobility solutions is always a good thing. But combustion engines live in the very heart of NASCAR, so it would take time to adjust to changing times.