Whew, dawg – nothing like POTATUS padding the bottom line a little more besides the billions of dollars he’s already thrown at the Green schemers.

If you were on travel orders, this could almost be as painful as that frickin’ China-Flu shot, and just as ineffective.

White House takes action to force government workers to travel via electric vehicle, rail
‘These operational changes will accelerate the clean transportation transformation,’ White House says

…The actions, which the White House said fulfilled President Biden’s promise to “lead by example” on tackling climate change, seek to take advantage of the federal government’s annual business travel purchasing power of $2.8 billion and status as the nation’s largest employer. Overall, government employees on official business took more than 2.8 million flights, made 2.3 million vehicle rentals and took 33,000 rail trips last year.

…Under the guidance, government employees must rent an EV on official travel when the cost of the EV is less than or equal to the most affordable comparable gas-powered vehicle available. Additionally, employees must opt for EVs when using taxis and ride-share platforms when they are cost-competitive.

In addition, employees must only use rail on trips that require less than 250 miles of travel instead of driving or flying. For local travel, employees will be required to use public transportation, a rule that includes travel upon arriving at an offsite location.

“This will save taxpayer money and reduce pollution that jeopardizes people’s health and fuels the climate crisis,” the White House said.

HOLY SMOKES

And how blindingly ludicrous.

As my life has always been one big accident waiting to happen, all I could think of was who wanted to pay for that additional collision coverage when you’re the one with the authorization to secure the car? And at what it costs for a fender bender in one of those things, you’d best take, it, right? Is the government footing the extra $25 day or whatever that costs?

And then what about when you’re in D.C. and have a conference in Quantico or Baltimore? Those are both the kind of places I’d gladly look forward to having to first find a recharging station, and then spending a few hours with the friendly locals hanging out as my car charged up.

What? Me worry?

As for saving the government all this money, well, it’s POTATUS’ #mathz again, so you know nothing adds up here. He’s just adding more subsidies to the subsidies with the virtue-signaling presidential pen flourish.

A sweeping first-of-its-kind analysis published by think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) concludes that electric vehicles (EV) would cost tens of thousands of dollars more if not for generous taxpayer-funded incentives.

According to the TPPF report — authored by energy experts Jason Isaac and Brent Bennett — the average model year 2021 EV would cost approximately $48,698 more to own over a 10-year period without the staggering $22 billion in taxpayer-funded handouts that the government provides to electric car manufacturers and owners. The analysis factors in federal fuel efficiency programs, electric grid strain, and direct state and federal subsidies.

“It is not an overstatement to say that the federal government is subsidizing EVs to a greater degree than even wind and solar electricity generation and embarking on an unprecedented endeavor to remake the entire American auto industry,” the report states. “Despite these massive incentives, EVs are receiving a tepid response from the majority of Americans who cannot shoulder their higher cost.”

Further, the analysis calculated the socialized cost of EV charging stations’ strain on the U.S. electric grid amounts to an average of $11,833 per EV over 10 years. Such costs are shouldered by utility ratepayers and taxpayers, many of whom may not own an EV.

As for choosing rail, that’s D.C. talking, where lots of people take a train in. If you have to go to, say, Lawton, OK, to talk to contractors, that’s not so easy. Even the Lyft driver or cab you’re supposed to pick the EV ride from is probably an older SUV.

How efficient is it going to be having to grab an Uber to scoot back to the station in time to make a limited train schedule vice finishing your meeting to everyone’s satisfaction, and driving back home?

Anyone who has ever traveled on orders or as a contractor knows what a massive pain-in-the-tookus it is in its own right, less mind having to pile on all these ridiculous, practically impossible to fulfil and police requirements to it.

And really – what about the extra costs that come with an EV, like that insurance? Now, I know rental companies will be thrilled because they are always trying to pawn the damn things off on folks who have reserved a car, as in ICE, and then they spring some Ford EV on them

Uh, no. I am going to a cabin at the lake 300 miles from here.

BUT THAT’S ALL WE HAVE

It’s happened so many times already to friends.

They actually might save a buttload on this, come to think of it.

No one’s going to want to go anywhere.