US tightens emissions rules to accelerate shift to electric vehicles

The United States tightened auto emissions standards on Wednesday to speed up the transition to electric vehiclesin an election year in which President Joe Biden needs the support of the auto industry.

Compared to the draft regulations revealed last year, these final rules however give manufacturers more time and flexibility to achieve new CO2 emissions targets.

In addition to needing the support of the automobile sector ahead of the November presidential elections, Biden must convince on his climate promises.

“These pollution standards, the strictest yet for automobiles, reinforce America’s leadership in building a clean transportation future.”says Michael Regan, head of the state environmental protection agency (EPA), in a statement.

The new rules will apply to light and medium vehicles manufactured from 2027 to 2032.

The government does not set a specific quota for clean vehicle sales, but gradually restricts the permitted emissions per year for each manufacturer’s new cars.

The limit was lowered for the first years (2027-2030), compared to what was initially planned, but in 2032 it reaches the preset level.

By then, CO2 emissions standards will represent a reduction of about 50% compared to 2026 auto standards, the EPA reports.

It is about giving manufacturers “more time” to adapt, a senior American official explained to reporters.

But some environmental advocates accuse the government of bowing to pressure from the auto industry.

The fact that the new regulations require fewer emissions reductions in the first years “will cause more damage to the climate”, lamented the Center for Biological Diversity.

The Council for the Defense of Natural Resources, another environmental association, estimated on the contrary that the measures are “in the right direction”.

Sales skyrocket

Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

The new rules should prevent the emission of 7.2 billion tons of CO2 by 2055, according to the EPA. This is approximately four times the emissions of the entire transportation sector in 2021.

The new standards also affect emissions of fine particles, which are dangerous to health.

In total, according to the government, it should generate a net benefit of US$ 99 billion a year, of which 13 billion thanks to health savings, for example because it will avoid hospitalizations.

According to the EPA, these new standards will help accelerate the transition to zero-emission (electric) or low-emission (hybrid) cars.

Manufacturers will be able to choose which technology they prefer to reduce pollution.

They could also improve the efficiency of gasoline car engines.

As many manufacturers are already aware of the need to switch to electric cars, the agency expects the movement to accelerate.

“Since 2021, sales of electric vehicles have quadrupled and prices continue to fall”explained Ali Zaidi, Joe Biden’s climate advisor.

Since the beginning of the Democrat’s term, companies have announced more than $160 billion in investments to manufacture clean vehicles, the EPA estimates.

According to the agency’s calculations, in the 2030s sales of electric vehicles could represent up to 56% of those of light cars (urban cars, sedans, SUVs…).

That’s less than the 67% predicted last year, but the EPA expects to meet targets thanks to an increase in hybrids.

In 2023, electric vehicles still represented 7.6% of vehicles sold in the United States, estimates the company Cox Automotive.