That's the magical word. And that's why I gave a LONG timeframe before we'd be done with ICE...frankly, it's probably gonna be later. I just realized I didn't give a SUPER long timeline...maybe as long as 75 years before ICEs would be banned.
But the new EPA rules are essentially trying to accelerate the transition to EVs prematurely. The WSJ editorial board posted an article today detailing how the EPAs new tailpipe regulations are really just an EV mandate in disguise.
Biden officials are stressing that the new auto greenhouse gas emissions standards they rolled out on Wednesday aren’t an electric-vehicle mandate. But the liberal press and climate lobby don’t buy it, and neither should Americans.
The Environmental Protection Agency somewhat eased CO2 emissions requirements through 2030 from its proposal last spring while maintaining essentially the same end-point for 2032. That means gas-powered cars can make up no more than 30% of auto sales by 2032. Make no mistake: This is a coerced phase-out of gas-powered cars.
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The companies are heavily subsidizing EVs with profits from gas-powered cars. This means middle-class Americans in Fargo are paying more for gas-powered cars so the affluent in Napa Valley can buy cheaper EVs. This cost-shift won’t be financially sustainable as the Biden mandate ramps up, and it may not be politically sustainable either
In November, over 4,000 auto dealerships representing every brand of vehicle and all 50 states sent a letter to the President that said this:
Mr. President, it is time to tap the brakes on the unrealistic government electric vehicle mandate. Allow time for the battery technology to advance. Allow time to make BEVs more affordable. Allow time to develop domestic sources for the minerals to make batteries. Allow time for the charging infrastructure to be built and prove reliable. And most of all, allow time for the American consumer to get comfortable with the technology and make the choice to buy an electric vehicle.
Yesterday after the new EPA regulations were announced, they sent this follow-up:
Today, the EPA released the final greenhouse gas rule for model years 2027-2032. On the positive side, the regulations have been softened in the early years from 2027-2030 in recognition of the slowing growth of EV sales.
However, the regulations still would require an increase in sales of electric vehicles that is far beyond the consumer interest we are experiencing at our dealerships. Despite generous government, manufacturer and dealer incentives, our customers continue to bypass EVs over concerns about affordability, charging infrastructure, performance in cold weather, and resale value. Worse still, the regulations spike in 2031-32 and revert to the unrealistic mandate that essentially requires that two-thirds of all vehicles sold be electric.
This EV mandate is not the result of an open Congressional debate. This is unelected Washington bureaucrats dictating what kind of vehicles Americans can buy.
We agree with NADA and urge the Administration to track EV sales versus projections and make necessary adjustments to reflect consumer demand.
We can take some solace in knowing that the voice of our customers broke through enough to convince the Biden Administration to moderate the mandate in the early years. But sadly the regulation stubbornly hangs on to an EV mandate that is clearly disconnected from the realities of the marketplace and the voice of the customer.
Join auto dealers nationwide in signing a letter regarding the proposed regulations on battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Together, we can emphasize...
evvoiceofthecustomer.com