US proposes drastic measures to accelerate transition to electric vehicles

The United States is set to give a major boost to the electrification of its fleet by announcing a proposal for new federal air pollution standards. The Joe Biden administration is aiming to take decisive action to reduce carbon emissions by 56% by 2032 and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.

The proposal of the White House and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is divided into two parts. On the one hand, with new standards for light and medium vehicles, and on the other, for heavy vehicles (trucks, buses, etc.).

In the case of passenger cars, the new proposal is based on emission standards already set for models from 2023 to 2026. However, he suggests using advances in clean technologies to further reduce pollution in models from 2027. Thus, it is also intended to accelerate the mass adoption of electric vehicles.

“The proposed new emission standards for light, medium and heavy vehicles for 2027 and later models will significantly reduce environmental pollution, with significant public health benefits, especially in communities that bear the greatest burden of poor air quality. At the same time, the proposed standards will reduce maintenance costs and provide significant fuel savings for drivers and truck operators," the agency says.

The proposal to reduce vehicle emissions is betting on removing almost 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2055. For electric vehicles, the EPA predicts the new measures will have a direct impact on the market. In particular, they are expected to account for 67% of new passenger car sales and 46% of midsize car sales by 2032.

The US wants to accelerate the introduction of electric vehicles

Compliance with the new standards for vehicle emissions will require a lot of effort from automakers. After all, the US government is now aiming for a spike in electric vehicle sales over the next 9 years.

Note that in 2022, only 5.8% of cars sold in the US were electric. It is estimated that in order to reach 67% of new passenger car sales by 2032, at least 60% of car production must be electric by 2030.

Without a doubt, this will be a difficult scenario for the industry. In 2021, Joe Biden himself set a goal that by 2030, 50% of new cars produced by that time would be electric or plug-in hybrids. manufacturer approved proposal. Obviously, in Washington, they believe that such a position is no longer enough to combat climate change and accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.

“By offering the most ambitious pollution standards for cars and trucks, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise to protect people and the planet by delivering critical reductions in hazardous air and climate pollution and delivering significant economic benefits, such as reduced fuel and maintenance costs, for families ", - says Michael S. Regan, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

As we have already mentioned, the new proposal is not only aimed at facilitating the transition to electric vehicles. Plans for the electrification of heavy vehicles are also very ambitious. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, by 2032, half of professional vehicles, such as school buses and garbage trucks, could be converted to electric vehicles.

Unlike Europe, the US has not yet imposed a ban on the sale of cars with internal combustion engines. However, the White House is already discussing the possibility of introducing new emission reductions from 2035. It remains to be seen what the reaction of both the oil and auto sectors, the two strongest in North America, will be.