Biden administration’s toughest-ever car pollution curbs to drive EV sales in US well beyond the rosiest forecasts

The proposed standards will accelerate the transition to a clean-vehicle future, tackle the climate crisis and improve air quality across the US, EPA administrator says

CO2 emissions from car and light trucks would be capped at 82 grams per mile in model year 2032, 56 per cent lower compared with model year 2026 standards

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Michael Regan, administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), speaks during a news conference in Washington, on Wednesday. The Biden administration has proposed stringent car emission limits. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:42am, 13 Apr 2023

The Biden administration proposed to crack down on vehicle pollution with tailpipe emission limits so tough they will effectively compel carmakers to ensure two out of every three cars and light trucks sold in 2032 are electric models.

The standards outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday are on track to be among the strongest in the world, propelling electric vehicle (EV) sales well beyond even the rosiest third-party forecasts.

“Today’s actions will accelerate our ongoing transition to a clean-vehicle future, tackle the climate crisis head on and improve air quality for communities all across the country,” EPA administrator Michael Regan said at a ceremony outside the agency’s headquarters in Washington.

Still, there are questions about the ability of car manufacturers to fulfil the fleet-wide limits on carbon dioxide, soot and smog-forming pollution. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation warned that factors outside the industry’s direct control – including the buildout of US power grids, charging stations and battery manufacturing – will play an outsize role in dictating the pace of EV penetration.

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed new tailpipe emissions limits for cars and trucks that could force 67 per cent of all new vehicles sold in the US by 2032 to be all-electric. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

“EPA’s proposed emissions plan is aggressive by any measure,” said John Bozzella, head of the alliance. “A lot has to go right for this massive – and unprecedented – change in our automotive market and industrial base to succeed.”