The Biden administration on Wednesday announced new national pollution standards for vehicles that will force automakers to increase their production of electric and hybrid vehicles.
The rules represent one of President Biden’s most significant climate actions to date, ratcheting down greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks by almost half by 2032. The emissions from medium-duty vehicles drop 44% under the new regulations.
The rules will help both the U.S. and Washington state get closer to their goals of shifting from gas and diesel powered vehicles to EVs.
“Three years ago, I set an ambitious target: that half of all new cars and trucks sold in 2030 would be zero-emission,” President Biden said in a statement. “Together, we’ve made historic progress. Hundreds of new expanded factories across the country. Hundreds of billions in private investment and thousands of good-paying union jobs. And we’ll meet my goal for 2030 and race forward in the years ahead.”
Washington has even more ambitious EV goals, joining California and others in requiring all new vehicles sold in the state to be zero carbon emissions by 2035. That includes passenger cars, light-duty vehicles, and medium-duty vehicles such as larger pick-up trucks and SUVs.
Last year, more than 13% of registrations for new passenger vehicles in Washington were either battery powered or plug-in hybrid vehicles, according to the state Department of Licensing. When all hybrid EVs are added into the count, that percent increases to more than 24% of vehicles registered.
“Climate leadership in Washington and other states continues to chart a path that others, including the federal government, are following — to all of our benefit,” said Leah Missik, acting Washington director for the nonprofit Climate Solutions, by email. “Thanks to state and federal action, people will be able to breathe easier as tailpipe pollution is eliminated and pay far less to fuel up by plugging in.”
Transportation emissions are a key area to address for combating climate change. The sector — which includes shipping and aviation — was responsible for 29% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, making it the largest contributor to the country’s climate debt.
The global response to climate change is increasingly critical. The World Meteorological Organization yesterday confirmed that 2023 was the warmest on record worldwide. The average temperature hit 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — just shy of the 1.5 degree C target that many experts say could trigger dangerous tipping points that accelerate warming.
“Sirens are blaring across all major indicators… Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting. And changes are speeding-up,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in response to the WMO report.
Yet support for EVs has become a highly politicized issue in the U.S., including the presidential race. Former President Trump, the GOP front runner in the election, has claimed that the move to EVs will destroy America’s auto industry, according media reports.
In announcing the pollution regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency touted the numerous public benefits of moving off of fossil fuels. It called out the job creation associated with the transition and improved public health due to better air quality. The EPA also estimated that Americans will save roughly $6,000 in lower fuel and maintenance costs over the life of an EV.
The federal rules do not force consumers to buy EVs. Instead it sets limits for automakers as to how much pollution is allowed across all of the vehicles that they produce. How they meet those limits by manufacturing a combination of gas, electric and hybrid vehicles is up to the company.
And there are still significant hurdles to widespread EV adoption in the U.S.
Washington and the nation are deploying infrastructure to allow EV drivers to recharge their vehicles when and where they need to, and manufacturers are rolling out EVs with more powerful batteries. But access to chargers is spotty in many areas and the devices aren’t always functioning.
Most EVs on the market in the U.S. are higher-end vehicles and outside of many shoppers’ budgets, though the number of less expensive options is increasing and state and federal tax credits help cut the costs.
