US President Joe Biden will later use the Leaders Summit on Climate to accelerate the introduction of the electric car by the US.
Auto pollution is the main source of emissions and the country needs to be mitigated from its reliance on gas hogs if it is to meet its zero climate target by 2050.
Transport currently accounts for almost a third of harmful emissions.
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One of Mr Biden’s first acts as President was the resumption of the Paris Agreement
Mr. Biden wants to turn this around and make America a world leader in electric vehicles.
But the challenge is huge.
Only around 2% of the new cars on America’s roads are electric, while the gasoline car remains part of the fabric of a country built around the road.
There is smoke, noise, and a lot of smoke at an amateur racing meet in Michigan.
It’s an American love letter to a gasoline engine.
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The gasoline car remains part of the structure of a land built around the road
We asked people if they would use an electric car, but most of them stood by their internal combustion engine.
The meeting may be the beating heart of auto culture, but if the views here are reflective, Mr Biden has cut out his work.
However, we found an electric car enthusiast amid the throbbing sound of gasoline engines.
Ben Olsen drives a Tesla – for performance reasons instead of saving the planet.
But he said widespread adoption may not be far away as technology keeps improving.
“You have to get them in the car, put them on the ground and show them how fast it really is,” he said.
“Ultimately, most people won’t adapt to future technology until they experience it.”
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Tesla driver Ben Olsen said the introduction of electric cars may not be far off as technology improves
Many consumers are put off by the cost, lack of range and lack of charging points.
Because of this, the new government plans to spend $ 174 billion (£ 125 billion) on improving infrastructure and incentivizing drivers to drive electric.
There is another challenge: making sure American workers are picked up.
Abandoned car factories litter the Detroit skyline.
According to social historian Jamon Jordan, there are fears that the green revolution could cost jobs.
“People will have to believe that this green agenda means them too,” he said.
“Right now, a lot of people think that this means someone else – that means someone with a college degree, that is, someone who has a PhD in something. They don’t think that this means someone who works on the factory line.”
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One of Mr Biden’s first acts as President was the resumption of the Paris Agreement. He said his new green deal will ultimately boost the economy, but admits that some traditional manufacturing jobs will be lost.
And in California, you can already glimpse this bright new future.
The state is the home of the electric car.
However, Derek Jenkins, senior vice president of design and branding at Lucid Motors, said that in order for it to go mainstream, the consumer needs to be paramount.
“It is important for the auto industry and for the technology, product and experience of electric driving to be more appealing and attractive and enjoyable, and ultimately to make better choices for consumers.”
“And that is exactly what will really drive the transition in the long run.”
The environment now plays a central role in all major policy decisions made by the US government as it seeks to green its economy.
The Earth Day Summit, April 22nd, will also be an opportunity to take the lead on the most pressing issue of our time.
It is clear, however, that there is still a long way to go in convincing the American public of an electric future.