The Biden administration is poised to soon finalize tailpipe emissions standards for gasoline-powered vehicles that consumer advocates and energy industry groups have called a “de facto electric vehicle mandate.”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) tailpipe emissions proposal, submitted in recent weeks to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final review, would target a staggering 67% of new car sales by 2032. It is definitely designed to be an electric car. , the New York Times and the Washington Post reported that the White House intends to further strengthen its lofty goals while relaxing previous goals.
“The President has been clear since 2020 that he intended to use the agency to eliminate the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles,” the U.S. fuel and petrochemical manufacturer said in a statement following media reports. “Adjusting the near-term speed of enforcement will not change the ultimate goal of banning new gasoline vehicles.”
“Consumers continue to find themselves in the same situation where they have significantly limited access, and in some cases significantly limited access, to the range of new car options they enjoy today that suit their needs and budgets,” the group said. It’s going to fall into place.” It added that it is lobbying against the EPA proposal. “Slowing down the pace of forced transition will neither help consumers nor protect our nation’s energy security.”
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President Biden previously set a goal of making 50% of car purchases electric by 2030. The White House said the EPA’s tailpipe rule provides a “clear path forward for continued growth in EV sales.” (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images | David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In a statement to FOX News Digital, EPA spokesperson Timothy Carroll declined to comment on the report, but said the EPA is committed to “reliably reducing low-achievable and dangerous air and climate pollution. “We are working to finalize exhaust pipe standards that will ensure economic benefits for families.” ”
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More aggressive federal tailpipe regulations and EV sales targets are set to be finalized soon by the EPA, first reported by the New York Times and later by the Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the administration’s plans. It has been confirmed that this will be postponed until 2030 based on the current plan. This means that automakers will have to rapidly increase their compliance with the standards in just a few years.
The reported slight delay in the initial implementation of stricter standards for new cars is seen as a result of concerns voiced by auto union leaders to White House officials. Last year, widespread efforts to mass adopt EVs hit several roadblocks with declining sales and soaring prices.
An electric car at a charging station in Sacramento, California. According to the Automotive Innovation Coalition, the average cost of an EV is about $52,500, even after generous federal and state subsidies, while the average price of a gasoline subcompact car is $24,000. (AP Photo/Ricci Pedroncelli, File)
“All said and done, the result is the same,” Energy Institute Director Tom Pyle said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “The Biden administration is trying to force automakers to produce only electric cars, but it’s clear the market isn’t interested in that. They can try as many soft pedals as they want, but the reality is they’re still There is no change in the ban on model cars.”
“Last year showed that EVs are not ready for prime time,” Pyle continued. “While a car may be the choice for some, the majority of car buyers want a reliable vehicle at an affordable price. EVs are not that.”
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Overall, under the proposal released by the EPA in April 2023, the White House projected that 67% of new sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks purchased would be electrified by 2032. It also predicted that up to 50% of buses and garbage trucks would be electric vehicles. By then, 35% of short-haul cargo tractor purchases and 25% of long-haul cargo tractors could be electric.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan said the proposed tailpipe standards are “easily achievable thanks to President Biden’s investment policies in the United States.” (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
But in the months since the proposal was first announced, the EPA has faced considerable pressure from industry and Republican lawmakers to withdraw it. They argue that while the market is not ready for such a large increase in EV purchases, the proposed standards would benefit China and lead to higher prices for Americans.
“These proposals seek to take control of America’s transportation sector and force full vehicle electrification in the name of climate change mitigation,” a group of more than 150 House Republicans wrote to EPA Administrator Michael Regan in May. “This is the latest effort by the Biden administration.”
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Last year, 9.3% of total vehicle purchases in the U.S. were electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, up from 7% in 2022, according to the Coalition for Automotive Innovation, an industry group representing several major automakers. This increase was primarily driven by purchases. In California and urban areas where the majority of EV purchases are made.
At the same time, EVs are still much more expensive than traditional gasoline cars. According to the Automotive Innovation Coalition, the average cost of an EV is about $52,500, even after generous federal and state subsidies, while the average subcompact car costs $24,000.
