Earlier today, the Biden administration unveiled a significant new rule to catalyze the electric vehicle industry in the United States and reduce future sales of new gas-powered cars.
Contrary to some misconceptions, the rule does not ban gas cars or mandate electric vehicle sales. Instead, it introduces a new emissions standard, compelling automakers to slash their fleets’ average carbon emissions by nearly 50 percent by 2032.
The implementation of this rule is anticipated to expedite the automotive industry’s transformation. Automakers will likely respond by increasing the proportion of electric and hybrid models in their fleets.
As a result, the Biden administration estimates that electric vehicles could constitute up to half of all new car sales by 2032. Additionally, this initiative aligns with the administration’s ambitious goal of halving U.S. emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
However, the final rule represents a moderated version of a proposal introduced last spring, incorporating concessions to the United Autoworkers Union that afford car companies greater flexibility during the initial three years after its implementation in 2027.
It’s important to recognize that tailpipe emissions pose a threat to the climate and public health. Inhaling pollutants emitted from car tailpipes is a significant health hazard, resulting in tens of thousands of premature deaths annually in the U.S.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the new rule will significantly reduce harmful air pollution, yielding approximately $13 billion in annual health benefits.
This rule arrives amid attempts by Republicans to politicize electric vehicles as a hallmark of President Biden’s climate agenda. Former President Donald Trump, in particular, has vehemently opposed electric vehicles, recently using strong language to criticize them.
It’s anticipated that Trump and other opponents will seize the Biden administration’s new rule to amplify their opposition to electric vehicles. Consequently, the types of cars Americans will be driving eight years from now could emerge as a central climate-related issue in the upcoming presidential election.
