Last week, President Joe Biden placed an executive order with the intention of making half of all new cars, beginning in the year 2030, electric, in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This particular executive order has been created with the motivation of warding off climate change while simultaneously moving toward making the United States an industry leader, so as to appropriately compete with China, who is seeking to control the market of electric vehicles.

"The biggest thing that's happening here is there's a realization, on the part of both labor and business now, that this is the future. We can't sit by," Biden informed reporters at the White House. The 50% vote, although not legally conclusive, did gain the support of United States automakers, as well as those from other countries. But it would still need billions of dollars in terms of financial support.

The primary objectives for Biden and automakers involve battery electric, fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid cars that also contain a gasoline engine. Many government officials, however, have experienced mixed responses regarding Biden's choice to make electric vehicles a future priority. Both Senator Gary Peters of Michigan and Biden agree that it is best not to set a deadline that is fixed or set in stone, but to nevertheless carry specific objectives in mind.

"Flexibility is important... but at the same token you need to set ambitious goals," Peters stated, quoted by Reuters.

On the other hand, Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign, critiqued the plan that Biden has in mind. "Voluntary pledges from auto companies make a New Year's resolution to lose weight look like a legally binding contract," Becker said, quoted by Reuters.

Although there have been a wide variety of reactions concerning Biden's new executive order to make half of all new vehicles go electric, time will only tell if the plan will be executed in appropriate ways.