Taking a page out of Europe’s sweeping emission reduction goals, the White House announced a string of Executive Orders which sets the goal to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or a fuel cell electric vehicle. The Executive Order also kicks off development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards.
President Biden plans to restore and slightly strengthen auto mileage standards to the levels that existed under President Obama but were rolled back under President Trump. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will draft a set of even more stringent auto pollution rules for both passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.
The Executive Order lays out an aggressive schedule for development of fuel efficiency and multi-pollutant emissions standards through at least model year 2030 for light-duty vehicles and for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting as early as model year 2027. The Executive Order also directs agencies to:
- Consult with the Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, and Energy on ways to accelerate innovation and manufacturing in the automotive sector, to strengthen the domestic supply chain for that sector, and to grow jobs that provide good pay and benefits.
- Engage with California and other states leading the way in reducing vehicle emissions.
- Secure input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from labor unions, industry, environmental justice organizations, and public health experts.
In a sign that both manufacturers and workers are onboard with at least the majority of the Executive Orders, American automakers Ford, GM, and Stellantis as well as the United Auto Workers (UAW) stood with the President during the announcement.
Owner-operators and small fleets looking to expand to electric vehicles but unsure of where to begin should explore EVrinda, an aggregation platform that brings qualified customers, innovative financiers, utilities, and third party vehicle and charger providers to develop and implement customized business models to accelerate fleet electrification.
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