The Biden administration has announced new regulations on tailpipe emissions in what it calls the “strongest-ever” pollution standards for cars in the US.

“Today, we’re setting new pollution standards for cars and trucks,” said US President Joe Biden. “US workers will lead the world on autos making clean cars and trucks, each stamped ‘Made in America’. You have my word.”

The final national pollution standards, announced this week by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), call for an electric vehicle adoption of between 35% and 56% of all sales between 2030 and 2032. However, the targets are not mandates to adopt EVs; they rather indicate how carmakers will change fleets to comply with the regulations, Kallanish notes.

The new standards are expected to contribute to around 50% average emission reduction for light-duty vehicles and 44% reduction for medium-duty vehicles. In addition, the final rules are anticipated to help cut 7.2 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions through 2055. They are also expected to reduce emissions of “health-harming” fine particulate matter by more than 95%, the EPA says.

“With transportation as the largest source of US climate emissions, these strongest-ever pollution standards for cars solidify America’s leadership in building a clean transportation future and creating good-paying American jobs, all while advancing President Biden’s historic climate agenda,” adds EPA administrator, Michael S Regan. 

The United Auto Workers welcomed the new rules, saying: “By taking seriously the concerns of workers and communities, the EPA has come a long way to create a more feasible emissions rule that protects workers building ICE vehicles, while providing a path forward for automakers to implement the full range of automotive technologies to reduce emissions.”

However, environmental groups have called for stronger standards, stating the new rules will enable automakers to continue to sell ICE vehicles. Environmental advocacy group, Center for Biological Diversity, for instance, says the standards “fail to prevent massive carbon pollution from millions of new gas-powered SUVs, pickup trucks and cars.”

“This rule could’ve been the biggest single step of any nation on climate, but the EPA caved to pressure from big auto, big oil and car dealers, and riddled the plan with loopholes big enough to drive a Ford F150 through,” notes Dan Becker, director of the group’s safe climate transport campaign.

“The weaker rule means cars and pickups spew more pollution, oil companies keep socking consumers at the pump, and automakers keep wielding well-practised delay tactics,” concludes Becker.