According to a recent scoop by the New York Times, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is anticipated to make a significant announcement this week. The announcement is expected to propose limits on tailpipe emissions and set a goal for the majority of new car sales in the US to be electric vehicles (EVs) by 2032. The EPA’s administrator, Michael S. Regan, is scheduled to make the announcement in Detroit on Wednesday. The Times noted that its sources spoke anonymously as the information had not yet been made public.
The US government is set to implement its most ambitious climate legislation to date, establishing the country as a global leader in efforts to reduce transportation emissions. This legislation will include some of the world’s strictest pollution limits for vehicles, which will ensure that electric vehicles (EVs) account for 54-60% of all new car sales in the US by 2030, with that figure increasing to 64-67% by 2032. This target exceeds President Joe Biden’s earlier goal of 50% EV sales by 2030. Last year, only 5.8% of all vehicles sold in the US were electric, so this new rule will represent a significant breakthrough for the country, as stated by the New York Times.
Accepting the new terms
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed regulation, which aims to set some of the world’s strictest pollution limits for vehicles, will undergo a public comment period and could be subject to changes by the government before it is finalized. If passed, the regulation would require that electric vehicles (EVs) make up between 54-60% of all new cars sold in the US by 2030, increasing to 64-67% by 2032. This move is more ambitious than President Joe Biden’s earlier goal of having 50% of new cars sold be EVs by 2030.
While the regulation has been lauded by climate change activists, it is likely to pose a challenge for traditional automakers who may struggle to meet these targets. However, it could create an urgent demand for the installation of EV chargers, grid updates, and mineral procurement for EV batteries. Nonetheless, the regulation will almost certainly face legal challenges and will be a contentious issue in the 2024 presidential campaign. It may also be undone or weakened by a future administration.
The transition towards a majority EV market in the US is expected to be complex, requiring significant changes in the supply chain, addressing technical challenges, and managing labor and skills issues. Nonetheless, if implemented, this regulation would represent a significant leap forward in the US’s efforts to reduce transportation emissions and make the country a global leader in climate action.