Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticism on Wednesday for her comments about yellow school buses while promoting new electric vehicles (EVs) for school districts. This comes as the car industry, including Ford, is pivoting towards hybrid options instead of fully electric vehicles, signaling setbacks for the Biden-Harris administration’s EV initiatives.

Last week, Ford announced a strategic shift, moving away from its planned all-electric, three-row SUV in favor of hybrid models. John Lawler, Ford’s vice chair and CFO, emphasized the need for profitability and market alignment, stating, “If they’re not profitable, we will pivot and adjust.”

This decision is a significant setback for the administration’s efforts to boost EV sales. Republican Michigan congressional candidate Tom Barrett criticized the federal push for EVs, arguing it threatens American jobs and increases dependence on foreign nations.

Harris has been a prominent advocate for EVs, co-signing the 2019 Green New Deal and leading the Clean School Bus program, which allocated $5 billion for electric school buses. Despite these efforts, the program has only delivered 60 electric or low-emission buses so far.

The administration’s ambitious goal to ensure 50% of car sales are electric by 2030 faces challenges, with only a handful of federal EV charging stations installed to date. Critics argue that the push for EVs was too rapid and is unlikely to succeed.

Former President Trump has vowed to end the EV mandate if re-elected, emphasizing the need for fossil fuels and criticizing the current administration’s approach.