The wrong way toward more electric cars

Here’s an assertion that most legislators in Hartford can agree on: we should have more electric vehicles on the road. By all measures, this would be good for the environment.

Unfortunately, some see SB 127, or “the Tesla bill,” as the best way to achieve this. We disagree.

The 270 dealerships that sell new cars in Connecticut are an expansive network of retailers and service providers who are selling more and more electric vehicles, or EVs. There are currently more than 45 EVs on the market today, and many of these can be found locally. Car manufacturers Volvo, General Motors and others have committed to selling 100 percent EV products in the next 10 to 20 years and the state’s dealerships are eager to showcase them.

But the Tesla bill, which allows for direct sales by out-of-state manufacturers, bypasses the local dealer network. While this may sound like the “free market” at work, it’s putting consumers at a strong disadvantage. And it asks the state to change the rules for the makers of a few cars that only the very wealthy can afford.

Connecticut dealers and their 14,000 employees are on the front lines with customers every day. They advocate for the consumers against manufacturers during recalls. When it comes to warranties and enforcing the lemon law, dealers fight for consumers whenever problems arise, or car companies fail. The GM ignition switch recall and the collapse of Saab, Cadillac and Saturn are examples in which dealers advocated for consumers. Manufacturers have come and gone over the years, but Connecticut dealerships continue to protect their customers.

To get more EVs on Connecticut roads, the current dealer network is key. The answer is not to create a special law for a California company that sells cars that most residents cannot afford (Tesla) or create a bill for a company that does not have cars in production (Lucid).

Tesla has shown itself to be committed to Tesla, not the growth of an EV network in this state. Take charging stations as an example: Connecticut new car dealers have 44 EV charging stations available to the public, most without a cost, regardless of car brand. This accounts for 15 percent of public chargers in Connecticut and this number is sure to rise over the coming years. The dealerships are happy to provide this service across the state to help residents and guests traveling through.

Tesla chargers, on the other hand, work only on Tesla cars. The company has done nothing to expand the charging infrastructure for Connecticut.

During the height of the pandemic, people drove less. However, during that same time, dealerships in Connecticut continued to help with customers’ auto questions and concerns. Whether it was a necessary repair, oil change or the need for a new car, Connecticut dealerships were working so that front line workers could have their cars taken care of if needed. Dealerships also provided necessary services on trucks and trailers to ensure the essential supply chain was maintained.

The companies pushing this bill could do business in Connecticut today, but want to bypass Connecticut law, a law that provides consumers with guarantees and safeguards. Why would Connecticut legislators want this? The Tesla bill gives special treatment to out-of-state corporations at the expense of local business. We strongly oppose SB 127.