In an attempt to hasten the auto industry's transition to electric vehicles, US President Joe Biden has issued the toughest vehicle exhaust pollution rule ever implemented in the US. He said on Wednesday in a statement that the US is establishing new emission regulations for automobiles and trucks. According to Biden, US auto workers will set the global standard for producing clean cars and trucks. Over the next 30 years, the new rule, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will stop 7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Just 7.6% of new automobile sales were electric vehicles in 2018. However, according to the EPA, the rules will need EVs to account for 35–56 per cent of sales by 2032. The proposal was mostly applauded by environmental groups, yet some activists were disappointed that it was not more stringent.
Compared to the UK and the EU, which plan to outlaw the sale of any gasoline-powered vehicles starting in 2035, the US is adopting a more measured stance.
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In an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the US has unveiled what it refers to as the "strongest ever" standards for vehicle tailpipe pollution. The US plans to increase the sales of electric cars (EVs). Nevertheless, the regulations, which were unveiled on Wednesday, fall short of the more audacious objectives that the Joe Biden administration had previously set.
According to projections made by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), between 2030 and 2032, between 30 and 56 per cent of new automobiles will be electric. The EPA predicted last year that by 2030 and 2032, EV sales would account for 60% and 67% of new automobile sales, respectively.
"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," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. "Transportation is the largest source of US climate emissions."
An executive order signed by Biden in 2021 established the goal of having "zero-emissions vehicles" account for half of all automobile sales in the US by 2030. The EPA estimates that nearly 8% of new car sales in the US in 2023 will be electric cars.
Why are Republicans opposing these rules?
Republicans have also opposed Biden's plan, raising concerns about whether the US has the infrastructure—including charging stations—to support a large rise in the number of electric vehicles on the road.
However, as the globe experiences some of the warmest temperatures on record, Democrats contend that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to solving the climate catastrophe. On Wednesday, the EPA added that the regulations will ultimately result in financial savings.
The statement read, "These standards will... provide nearly $100 billion of annual net benefits to society, including $13 billion in benefits to public health from improved air quality each year and $62 billion in savings on fuel and driver maintenance and repairs."
What were the views of Mr.Trump?
The Democratic incumbent over electric vehicles (EVs) has been the target of frequent criticism from former President Donald Trump, who will compete against Biden in November's general elections.
Last week, Trump sparked controversy by claiming that Biden's reelection would result in a "bloodbath" and that the Democratic president would permit a large influx of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) into the US market that are manufactured in Mexican factories. Later on, he explained that his reference to a "bloodbath" was intended to suggest that his Democratic opponent would be bad for the US auto sector. Trump also attacked EVs in January. He declared, "There is no such thing as a fair transition that eliminates over 100,000 jobs in the auto industry."
However, according to Biden, his initiatives will enable US businesses to compete with the rest of the world, which is already moving toward electric vehicles.
All in all what Americans want is, “EVs may be a good option for some, but Americans should have the right to buy whatever car best suits their family.”
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