Tariffs on Chinese EVs Make California’s Mandate Even Less Realistic

Commentary Back when I was growing up near Detroit in the 1960s and 70s, now and then somebody told a questionable story that went something like this. “Did you hear about a guy over in Ferndale who invented an engine running on water?” “No. What happened to it?” “The oil companies paid him $100 million for the plans and to keep his mouth shut.” That comes to mind as California continues grappling with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate for all new cars sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Electric cars aren’t quite as unrealistic as a water-powered car. They do exist and many people buy them. But as a practical replacement for gas- or diesel-powered cars, they’re about as realistic as water-powered cars. That’s going to become more and more evident every year as we head toward 2035....