President Trump wasted no time targeting electric vehicles (EVs) on his first day in office, but experts suggest his ability to make sweeping changes might be more limited than he claims. In an executive order, Trump aimed to eliminate what he referred to as the “electric vehicle mandate,” a term that’s a bit misleading since there’s never been a federal rule banning gas-powered cars.

The order also seeks to scrap federal incentives for EVs, including a $7,500 tax credit for buyers and support for charging stations. However, many of these measures were part of a 2022 law, meaning Congress would need to get involved to reverse them. Even if Trump manages to push through some changes, automakers aren’t likely to hit the brakes on their EV plans.

Trump’s order also takes aim at state-level EV regulations, particularly in California and eight other states that plan to phase out gas-powered car sales by 2035. These states represent about a quarter of the U.S. car market. But here’s the catch: Trump’s efforts to override state authority on emissions standards triggered legal battles during his first term, and the same could happen again.

The auto industry, while not entirely in favor of state EV mandates, is deeply invested in electric vehicles. Companies like General Motors and Ford have poured billions into EV production and battery factories. Analysts point out that even if federal support dwindles, the momentum behind EVs is too strong to reverse.

Interestingly, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter, might not be as negatively affected as one might think. Musk has publicly stated that EV subsidies should end, and experts believe Tesla’s competitive edge could actually grow if federal EV incentives disappear.

Despite Trump’s efforts, the future of electric vehicles in the U.S. seems destined to stay on course, driven by consumer demand and massive industry investments.