Joe Biden pitches $174 billion EV plan, tests Ford truck

US President Joe Biden made the case on Tuesday for his $174 billion electric-vehicle proposals, prompting automakers not to build zero-emission vehicles abroad for U.S. customers. Biden also got to take a new zero-emission truck out for a drive.

“We need automakers and other companies to keep investing here in America and not take the benefits of our public investments and expand electric vehicles and battery manufacturing abroad,” Biden said on a visit to a Ford Motor’s electric-vehicle plant in Dearborn, Michigan, to see the electric vehicle version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck.

Biden argues the country is falling behind China in this sector. China is selling more EVs.

“We’re going to set a new pace for electric vehicles,” Biden said, vowing to reverse what he called the Trump administration’s “short-sighted” rollback of vehicle emissions standards.

Biden went to a Ford test track to briefly drive the EV truck still camouflaged prior to its official reveal on Wednesday. U.S. presidents are not allowed to drive by security officials in general.

“This sucker’s quick,” Biden told reporters, adding it could go from 0-60 miles an hour in just 4.4 seconds. “It feels great.”

Biden ruled out customer incentives for high-priced electric luxury models, according to a White House fact sheet. Biden argues for dramatic government spending to prod Americans to purchase EVs.