WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new emission standards for automobiles that are considered the toughest ever imposed in a bid to escalate the adoption of electric vehicles by the public. EPA officials are claiming that these new standards will result in EV sales reaching as high as 67 percent of all new car sales in approximately one decade.
As of the first quarter of 2023, EVs accounted for between 7 and 8 percent of new car sales.
While those supporting the fight against climate change applauded the EPA’s new emissions standards and the Biden Admin’s aggressive goal regarding the extensive proliferation of EV sales, many car manufacturers are also talking about Wednesday’s announcement, with some saying that it will change the automotive industry in the United States forever.
Thomas Pyle, President of the American Energy Alliance – an energy-policy advocacy group – said in a news release that the EPA’s new standards will result in financial hardship for Americans, many of whom will find difficulty affording EVs, which are typically tens of thousands of dollars more expensive than gas-powered compact cars.
By proposing these rules, the Biden administration is effectively banning the internal combustion engine,” he said. “To say that such a policy threatens the freedoms of ordinary Americans who cannot afford electric vehicles greatly understates the danger of these proposed rules. Before he makes any more moves to take away your car, perhaps President Biden should lead by example and give up his Corvette.”
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella stated that the EPA standards are “aggressive” and noted that “the proposal exceeds the administration’s own 50 percent electrification target.” Biden had previously set a goal of having 50 percent of new car sales to be comprised of EVs by 2030.
A General Motors (GM) spokesman said, “GM supports economy-wide efforts to address climate change including a drive towards an all-electric future and improving the efficiency of our fleet. Complementary policies like permitting reform and support for domestic investments in manufacturing, supply chain and charging infrastructure are needed to help accelerate investments and adoption.”
Both GM and Ford appear to be advocating for additional regulatory assistance in meeting the EPA’s new emission standards, with a Ford spokesperson saying, “Ford is leading the way as the global auto industry makes an unprecedented transformation to the electric vehicle era. We’re making popular and exciting EVs and investing heavily in U.S. battery and EV production. Accelerating this historic transition requires strong coordinated action from the public and private sectors.”
Stellantis, parent company of Chrysler, Appeared to be a bit taken back by the new EPA standards, stating that the automaker remains “committed to reducing vehicle emissions,” and that “while it will take some time to review today’s proposals, we are surprised that none of the alternatives align with the President’s previously announced target of 50 percent EVs by 2030.”
Christopher Boyle is an investigative journalist, videographer, reporter and writer for SEARCHEN NETWORKS® and The Published Reporter® as well as other independent news and media organizations in the United States. Christopher works on a wide variety of topics and fields, has been featured in print and online in a variety of publications, from local to national, and helps keep a keen-eye on what’s happening in the automotive world for Auto Buyers Market.