I'd like to see a true academic study on this... and what I'd really like is for a group to provide the assumptions in the model before 'running' the model (and adjusting the inputs if/when the output doesn't match the preconception)... IOW, I'm looking for a logical discourse and a general direction....

1) because of all the plastics and rare earth metals involved, exactly how much of a positive impact are we really having by replacing oil with electric. Included in that should be the increased infrastructure to provide reasonable access to charging stations. I'm not talking about costs, I'm talking about environmental impact. There is an environmental impact of increasing national electric transmission. See California wildfires and of course, the metals in the wiring.

2) With the new Ford Mach-E and the cheaper Teslas etc coming in at around 50k, I believe Ford estimates fuel savings of around 7k/yr. What is the payback for someone who would otherwise likely buy a Camry? What about the guy who struggles to buy a used Ford Fusion? IOW, how is this increased cost of fuel not going to harm the most vulnerable among us? People who buy Mercedes or Yukon Denali can easily opt for a Tesla and avoid the tax increases. What about the guy who buys a used pick-up?

Let's just start with those.

My belief is that the environmental impact is close to zero and could actually be negative, especially when applied to the nations where many of these rare earth metals exist.

My other belief is that gas taxes to promote conservation primarily harm those who can't afford the alternatives... which (when you include families who buy cars for kids) is most of us, and not the truly wealthy.