This is a very bad idea.
Former President Trump voiced his critique of the Biden administration on an unexpected issue recently – the move towards making Army tanks entirely electric. Trump expressed his viewpoint on Truth Social, stating, “The Biden Administration’s new proposal is to convert our Army Tanks to electric power, with the aim of reducing air pollution, even though this might limit their range significantly.”
According to The Hill, this statement, although lacking detailed context, seems to be a veiled criticism of the Biden administration’s broader objective to promote cleaner energy usage within the military, a matter that has sparked controversy among many Republicans.
The Pentagon has been actively pursuing cleaner energy sources for its extensive fleets, military installations, and operational activities. In 2022, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth unveiled a comprehensive plan to introduce an all-electric light-duty non-tactical fleet by 2027 and extend this initiative to encompass an all-electric non-tactical fleet by 2035. Non-tactical vehicles, which consist of trucks and support vehicles lacking specific combat functions, are the initial focus of this effort.
Furthermore, the Army aims to introduce hybrid tactical vehicles by 2035 and fully electric tactical vehicles by 2050, which would encompass heavier combat vehicles like tanks. However, these goals face significant challenges as the required technology has yet to reach the necessary level of development, as reported by Bloomberg in June.
Republicans have raised concerns regarding the feasibility of transitioning to electric military fleets and have frequently criticized the Defense Department’s climate change initiatives, characterizing them as “woke” policies.
In contrast, the U.S. military perceives climate change as a pressing threat and believes that diversifying its energy sources will not only benefit global sustainability but also enhance its operational readiness.
Christine Wormuth emphasized the Army’s commitment to addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in her 2022 statement, stating that the Army “must adapt across our entire enterprise and purposefully pursue greenhouse gas mitigation strategies to reduce climate risks.”