Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm acknowledged her staff’s “poor judgment” in an incident where police were called after they blocked electric vehicle (EV) chargers with a gas-powered car during her four-day EV road trip in June. During a House Science and Technology Committee hearing, Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Fla., questioned Granholm about the incident, and she responded by saying, “I have a fantastic young staff, just fantastic. It was poor judgment on the part of the team.”
Granholm explained that her staff may have blocked the charger because they wanted to keep moving. She denied personally saving the spot but confirmed that the charger was reserved for her to avoid waiting in a long line, causing several people to wait longer to use the chargers. The incident drew criticism from EV drivers, as it disrupted the charging infrastructure.
The Biden administration has been promoting electric vehicles as part of its climate agenda and set a goal for 50% of all new car sales to be electric by 2030. As electric vehicles gain popularity, ensuring adequate charging infrastructure and responsible usage become important considerations for the industry and policymakers.