Shift: A podcast about mobility EV policy rollbacks could threaten U.S. global competitiveness, says Biden-era charging leader Gabe Klein
Aug 10, 2025
Gabe Klein, former executive director of the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation under President Biden, delves into the implications of federal EV policy rollbacks on U.S. global competitiveness, especially against China. He highlights the urgent need for private investments in EV infrastructure and discusses the pressing challenges faced by American startups like Rivian and Lucid. Emphasizing the inevitability of EV adoption, Klein also explores innovative solutions like bi-directional charging to boost energy resilience.
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Federal Office Accelerated Charging Standards
- The Joint Office used plug-and-charge and ChargeX to improve charger reliability.
- Public chargers grew from about 110k to about 245k during that effort.
Charging Companies Should Plan For Survival
- Gabe Klein says charging firms must adopt subsidy-light models and expect federal uncertainty.
- He urges big city deals (e.g., 400–500 chargers) so companies can scale without federal grants.
States Varied Widely On NEVI Engagement
- Gabe Klein says roughly 22 states actively engaged with NEVI while many ignored the program.
- Some states sued and won NEVI funds, but others like Florida remained disengaged.