U.S. Releases ‘Strongest Ever’ Car Pollution Rules in Push for EV Transition
New automobile emissions standards are expected to be released by the Biden Administration. These new standards are to relax proposed tailpipe limits for three years but eventually reach the same strict standards set out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These changes being made are in response to the slowdown of electric vehicle sales, which are needed to meet our global emissions goals. The industry could meet the limits if if 67% of new vehicle sales are electric by 2032, as suggested by the EPA.
According to AP News, During a public comment period on the standards for 2027 through 2032, the auto industry called the benchmarks unworkable with EV sales slowing as consumers worry about cost, range and a lack of publicly available charging stations.
Three people with knowledge of the standards say the Biden EPA will pick an alternative that slows implementation from 2027 through 2029, but ramps up to reach the level the EPA preferred from 2030 to 2032. The alternative will have other unspecified modifications that help the auto industry meet the standards, one of the people said.
The people, two from the auto industry and one from the government, didn’t want to be identified because the new standards haven’t been made public by the EPA.
The changes appear aimed at addressing strong industry opposition to the accelerated ramp-up of EVs, along with public reluctance to fully embrace the new technology. There is also a legitimate threat of legal challenges before conservative courts.
The Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has increasingly reined in the powers of federal agencies, including the EPA, in recent years. The justices have restricted the EPA’s authority to fight air and water pollution — including a landmark 2022 ruling that limited the EPA’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming.
