EPA Proposes Stronger Truck and Car Emissions Standards

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week proposed its strongest truck and auto emissions standards yet, aimed to cut carbon pollution dramatically from current standards, and drive the accelerating transition to electric vehicles in the United States. 

The proposed standards work by addressing the average emissions for new vehicles sold in each new model year. The standards are projected to reduce overall tailpipe carbon pollution by 56% compared with standards now required. These new fleet average emissions standards are projected to result in up to two-thirds of the new vehicles sold in the U.S. being all-electric by 2032. 

According to the EPA’s news release, “The proposed standards would improve air quality for communities across the nation, especially communities that have borne the burden of polluted air. Together, these proposals would avoid nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to more than twice the total U.S. CO2 emissions in 2022, while saving thousands of dollars over the lives of the vehicles meeting these new standards and reduce America’s reliance on approximately 20 billion barrels of oil imports.” 

“By proposing the most ambitious pollution standards ever for cars and trucks, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise to protect people and the planet, securing critical reductions in dangerous air and climate pollution and ensuring significant economic benefits like lower fuel and maintenance costs for families,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These ambitious standards are readily achievable thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is already driving historic progress to build more American-made electric cars and secure America’s global competitiveness.”

“This is a positive step and LCV appreciates that EPA is limiting emissions from cars, SUVs, and medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which harm public health and disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color,” said Matthew Davis, League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Vice President of Federal Policy. “We’re all in to ensure the final rules are even stronger – the EPA must do more to address harmful emissions from cars and trucks, the largest source of climate pollution.” 

Chispa LCV Senior Vice President of Community and Civic Engagement Sandra Pérez González added, “Communities of color and low-income communities living near the shipping, freight, and delivery industries’ hubs are especially burdened with the devastating effects diesel trucks have on respiratory health. In order to deliver on President Biden’s commitments, EPA must finalize stronger rules to help ensure that all communities, especially those on the frontlines of environmental injustice, have access to clean air.”