Automotive News: USA to backtrack on EV sales targets

It is rumored that the Biden administration is set to announce relaxed requirements for EV sales this coming Spring, signaling a shift in strategy on the rollout of all-electric vehicles due to tepid consumer demand.

Per a report from The New York Times, which cites anonymous sources familiar with the plans, the shift is a result of concessions made to automakers and labor unions, key groups for Biden during an election year. While the current administration will continue to push for increased restrictions on vehicle emissions, relaxed regulations on electric vehicle sales are set to include a slower pace for automaker compliance before a more rapid EV adoption rate after 2030.

Biden’s Republican opponent, Donald Trump, has seized on the opportunity to use the EV transition and emissions proposal issues to attack his political rival, stating that he would eliminate Biden’s policies on his first day back in the White House, if reelected.

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The Biden administration is reportedly conceding to pressure from automakers who have expressed concerns over the feasibility of meeting the original EV targets in the face of high costs, a sparse vehicle charging network, and lower-than-expected demand among consumers.

This forthcoming policy change marks a significant shift for the current administration amid calls to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Last year, the EPA proposed very strict emissions standards for vehicles produced between the 2027 and 2032 model years as a means of accelerating the sale of new all-electric vehicles. The proposal projected that 67 percent of new vehicles sold should be all-electric by 2032, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 7.3 billion tons by 2055.