It only takes a simple question:
What “federal energy department” worked out, chose and fostered the development and deployment of the fuel distribution, refueling network and refueling equipment for the oil-energized automobile industry?
Answer: none.
The very best thing the Federal government can do with regard to anything concerning vehicles running on electric power is to get Congress and the Federal bureaucrats 100% out of the picture.
The automobile industry and the electric power generation and distribution industries can chart the future for electric cars, just fine, without Federal government bureaucrats, their legal micro-managing or their wasteful spending of taxpayers money promoting politically selected solutions.
You’re exactly right.
The thing I thought about when reading this was how the appearance of the automobile in the early 1900’s was subsidized by our government or the service stations for fuel. Neither was, and that’s how this EV thing should be.
If the market is to accept a product it should stand on its own, if it has to be subsidized it will die when the subsidy ceases.