US Unveils Toughest-Ever Car Emissions Rule in Bid to Force Surge in EV Purchases

President Joe Biden has unveiled two federal rule changes aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and other pollutants in motor vehicle emissions. The proposed changes will affect almost all gasoline-powered vehicles on US roads and are expected to save consumers around $12,000 in fuel and maintenance costs over the life of their vehicles. It is estimated that these changes will avoid almost 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2055, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The move is intended to achieve President Biden’s goal of having 50 percent of all new cars and light trucks and 30 percent of new medium and heavy-duty trucks sold in 2030 to be zero-emission vehicles. According to the EPA, electric vehicles (EVs) are considered zero-emission vehicles. The EPA estimates that if approved, these rules would result in 67 percent of new passenger vehicles and light trucks being EVs by 2032, along with 50 percent of buses, 35 percent of short-haul freight tractors, and 25 percent of long-haul freight tractors.

However, critics have argued that the move, which will increase the cost of new cars, was made without consideration of the nation’s supply chain’s ability to meet the demand.

The Biden administration has invested approximately $31 billion in the development of “clean transportation” over the past two years. These investments include the development of a nationwide network of EV charging stations, improving the supply chain for materials required to produce EV batteries, and granting loans to companies that manufacture EVs and their components in the United States.

A number of US-based car manufacturers and states have been proactively moving the market towards electric-powered vehicles. In 2021, General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis announced they would aim to reach EV sales of at least 40 percent of all new vehicle sales by 2030. This rule change follows 10 months after six major automakers agreed to stop selling gas and diesel-powered cars throughout the world by 2040.

Republican lawmakers immediately criticized the announcement.

“First President Biden came for our gas stoves. Now he wants to ban the cars in our driveways,” said Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) in a statement, criticizing Biden’s efforts to curb carbon emissions.