EPA Approves California Rules Phasing Out Diesel Trucks
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to release proposed federal emissions standards for light-duty vehicles. If implemented, the new, tighter restrictions would shift the US car market towards electric vehicles over the next decade....
Facts
- The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to release proposed federal emissions standards for light-duty vehicles. If implemented, the new, tighter restrictions would shift the US car market towards electric vehicles over the next decade.1
- The new greenhouse gas performance standards would begin for light-duty vehicles with a model year 2027 and gradually increase through model year 2032. By 2032, the rules would make 64-67% of all new-car sales in the US electric vehicles.1
- Details of the proposal haven't been confirmed, but it's speculated they may go further than Biden’s goal for half of all new vehicle sales to be electric-powered by 2030.2
- The EPA proposal comes a year after California air regulators voted to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 and set interim targets for such models to be phased out.3
- The new EPA proposals outline four different routes to achieve their environmental goals. EPA officials have emphasized that the strictest course may not be the one imposed, and that they are eager to engage with industry officials and state regulators. A final proposal may include more lenient options or a mix of various scenarios under consideration.4
Sources: 1CNN, 2Wall Street Journal, 3Abc7 los angeles and 4Washington Post.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Washington Post. Auto emission rules are crucial in helping the US meet its overall climate goals. The transportation sector is the country’s biggest source of planet-warming gases. Shifting the US auto industry to EVs, which don't produce tailpipe emissions, is one of the fastest ways to address climate change.
- Narrative B, as provided by Wall Street Journal. The proposed rules are so strict that most automakers will not realistically be able to keep up with this timeline. Many automakers are already in the middle of remaking their companies and assembly lines to produce more electric vehicles but they need more time and support to make the transition. No matter what the EPA rules are, the industry move to electric vehicles will largely hinge on factors outside of the industry's control, such as the insufficient availability of public and private EV charging stations and a potential shortage of raw materials.
