- The Biden administration plans to roll back strict new rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would force U.S. automakers to make electric vehicles their main business by 2032.
- Industry insiders have asked the government to give them more time to reduce the cost of electric vehicles and build a better charging infrastructure across the country.
The New York Times writes that labor leaders are pressing Biden to give them more time to unionize workers at new U.S. electric car plants.
The union’s support is critical as Biden faces re-election in the face of a dire climate situation and attacks from candidate and former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s new initiatives
The Biden administration plans to roll back tough new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that would force U.S. automakers to make electric vehicles their primary business by 2032.
This is according to a report in The New York Times yesterday that industry insiders have asked the government to give them more time to reduce the cost of electric vehicles and build a better charging infrastructure across the country.
Environmental factor
The shrinkage came after a strong El Nino event combined with climate trends last year that broke 2016’s global high temperature record. Every year since 2013 has surpassed the record set in 2010, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which noted last year that it had been 47 years since the last below-average year.
The EPA’s original requirement was for electric vehicles to account for 67 percent of new light vehicle sales and 46 percent of new midsize vehicle sales by 2032, up sharply from 7.6 percent last year. Sales of electric vehicles have slowed for a variety of reasons, putting that goal even further out of reach, not the least of which is that the auto industry has stuck with making large electric trucks and SUVs that the supply chain isn’t ready to withstand.
Also read: Carbon trading explained: Top 4 carbon emission exchanges in 2024
