But last year, only 5.8% of all new cars sold in the U.S. were fully electric. Mr. Biden last year signed a law aimed at encouraging Americans to buy electric cars by offering buyers tax credits of up to $7,500, but many foreign-made cars are eligible for tax credits. do not have.
Experts say the new rules are a vital stick in the tax incentive carrot. If auto companies succeed in weakening regulations, the administration’s goals could become even more difficult to achieve. The Environmental Protection Agency released a draft rule early this spring and is soliciting public comment before finalizing and enforcing the rule by the first half of next year.
Car companies’ concerns are expected to influence the final rule, especially as Mr. Biden is running for re-election in politically important auto-producing states such as Michigan and Ohio.
Background: The latest in the long battle for the future of the car.
The backlash against the rule is the latest in a long-running exchange between Washington and the auto industry over climate pollution.
Former President Barack Obama first raised fuel economy standards to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, securing reluctant backing from the country’s then-Big Three automakers. This is because the Obama administration had just bailed out of bankruptcy in the midst of global economic turmoil. crisis.
Since then, President Donald J. Trump has largely backed down from Obama-era rules and even some automakers have protested that they have gone too far. Since then, Biden has sought to revive and expand the Obama rules. In 2021, he signed an executive order promising to push forward with policies that make at least half of all new cars sold in the U.S. by 2030 fully electric.
But this spring, the administration surprised the auto industry with a rather in-depth draft rule. His proposal targets 67% of new small car sales, from sedans to pickup trucks, to be fully electric by 2032.
what’s next: Will the EPA lower its target?
Regulators in the Biden administration are expected to consider public comment before amending and finalizing the proposal. Historically, many of the proposed environmental regulations have been relaxed in response to industry concerns.
Auto lobby groups said they don’t oppose all regulations aimed at accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, but in their comments they said the Biden administration has set a target for electric vehicle sales by 2030. to 40-50% instead of 67%. He is 2032 as proposed by the current rules.
and blog postThe group’s chairman, John Bozera, suggested the Biden administration would include plug-in hybrids in its goals, rather than push for the rapid introduction of fully electric vehicles. A plug-in hybrid uses a combination of internal combustion engine and battery power.
Representatives for the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency did not respond to emails seeking comment.
