Biden Unveils Toughest-Ever Car Emissions Rules to Try to Force Electric Vehicle Purchases

The Biden administration has unveiled the toughest-ever regulations regarding tailpipe emissions as part of its efforts to push Americans into purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) and to achieve its ambitious climate agenda. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed vehicle pollution standards that will impact car model years 2027 through 2032. These regulations will protect public health by almost achieving carbon emission reductions of 10 billion tons by 2055 and saving consumers an average of $12,000 over the lifetime of vehicles.

The White House has revealed that, “Cars and truck manufacturers have made clear that the future of transportation is electric.” These new standards will expedite the clean vehicle transition and lower oil imports by 20 billion barrels.

These measures, which represent the most aggressive tailpipe emissions standards ever crafted, will encourage electric vehicle purchases, with the regulations set to be finalized shortly. Overall, the White House projects that by 2032, an incredible 67% of new sedan, crossover, SUV, and light truck purchases will be electric. Furthermore, up to 50% of bus and garbage truck, 35% of short-haul freight tractor and 25% of long-haul freight tractor purchases could be electric by then.

Despite criticism that these regulations will primarily raise prices for traditional gas-powered cars, making them cost-competitive with electric alternatives, President Biden looks set to achieve his goal of ensuring 50% of car purchases are electric by 2030. He aims to achieve this via his extensive Investing in America agenda that includes expanding domestic manufacturing and accelerating the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles.

Gas-powered cars represented 93% of all new car sales in 2022, and EVs remain far more expensive and less efficient alternatives. However, the Biden administration is determined to bend every federal law and regulation to push people into buying EVs. Republican lawmakers have criticized these rules, slamming them as another draconian measure, but the administration hopes that the market will move towards these green, clean alternatives for the benefit of the environment.

In August 2021, President Biden had also signed an executive order requiring the EPA to introduce fuel efficiency and emissions standards to tackle the climate crisis. Months later, in a move reversing a Trump administration rule, the EPA established greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles made between 2023 and 2026, billed at the time as the most ambitious rules of their kind.