On Tuesday, Vermont Governor Phil Scott made the decision to suspend the state’s requirements for electric vehicle sales concerning passenger cars and medium-duty trucks. This move comes amid growing questions about the practicality of the zero-emission vehicle rules originally set by California.
Vermont is among 11 states, alongside New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts, that have adopted these California regulations aimed at eliminating gasoline-only vehicle sales by 2035. According to the California guidelines, by the model year 2026, 35% of lightweight vehicles must be zero-emission models.
Scott, who is a Republican, pointed to a warning from an automaker suggesting that the supply of gasoline vehicles might be limited for dealers in the state due to these EV regulations.
“It’s pretty clear that we’re not quite there yet when it comes to having enough charging infrastructure and reliable vehicles to meet our goals,” Scott remarked.
Additionally, Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore, postponed the enforcement of similar rules until the 2028 model year, citing issues related to tariffs and the need for funding infrastructure.
In May, the House voted to reject both the California Landmark 2035 EV initiative and the proposal for increasing zero-emissions heavy trucks, attempting to revoke regulatory approvals granted by the Environmental Protection Agency during the Biden administration.
However, it’s uncertain whether the Senate will address these measures, and California maintains that Congress cannot overturn Biden’s policy due to the fast track rules.
Major automobile manufacturers argue that the regulations, which require 80% of vehicles to be EVs by 2035 and limit plug-in hybrids to below 20%, are impractical and are actively lobbying against them. On the other hand, California insists that these measures are vital for reducing pollution and claims the voting against them is unjust.
According to California’s regulations, EVs should constitute 68% of new vehicle sales by 2030.
