Biden Proposes Aggressive Emissions Standards in Bid to Speed Up EV Shift
The Biden-Harris Administration is giving automakers another strong push toward electric vehicles with a proposal that calls for aggressive new federal vehicle emissions standards.
Specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes two new rules that call for stronger CO2 standards on light-duty and medium-duty vehicles(Opens in a new window) and heavy-duty vehicles(Opens in a new window), starting with model year 2027.
"If finalized, the proposed rules could result in electrification of 67% of new sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks; 50% of new vocational vehicles (such as buses and garbage trucks); 35% of new short-haul freight tractors; and 25% of new long-haul freight tractors" by 2032, the White House says in a fact sheet(Opens in a new window).
The term "electrified" encompasses fully electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
The White House projects that the standards could cut "nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions–twice the annual US emissions today." The transportation sector is the largest emitter of CO2 emissions in the US; the EPA says the proposed standards will reduce a variety of environmental toxins, including particulate matter, methane organic gases (NMOG), and nitrogen oxides (NOX).
The White House notes the transition to an "electric future" has already begun. In January 2023, 7% of new car sales in the US were fully electric, nearly double from 4.3% one year ago while total auto sales remained largely flat.
The diversity of options has expanded, the administration claims, and most major automakers have already committed to electrification within the next few decades. "Globally and domestically, these ongoing
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