Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan said Wednesday that the Biden administration is not imposing an electric vehicle (EV) mandate, despite recently finalizing a policy that would effectively require a massive increase in EV production.
Regan made the remarks while appearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday, where she was questioned by Michigan Republican Rep. Lisa McClain about her administration's EV policy. But in recent months, Regan's agency has finalized tough emissions standards for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles that will effectively require a significantly higher share of EVs sold in the US over the next decade.
“I want to shift the focus a little bit on dependency on China. Simply put, I am concerned that an EV mandate will lead to even greater dependency on China. And that's what I want to talk about today: dependency on China,” McClain began by opening the question. “Do you think an EV mandate will lead to even greater dependency on China?” (Related: Biden says Americans can buy any car they want; Administration will force EVs to make up a large share of sales by 2032)
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As McCain suggested, China controls much of the global supply chain for mining and refining the raw materials essential to making EVs, raising concerns that federal regulations and subsidies aimed at promoting EVs could end up favoring China.
“You know, we don't have an EV mandate. We have regulations that provide …” Regan said, before McClain interjected.
“Are you aware of the Biden Administration's mandate that 70% of all vehicles produced be electric by 2030?” McClain asked, misstating details of the EPA policy.
After a brief exchange, Regan defended his agency's regulations.
“It's easy to find a combination of technologies that meet the environmental standards, and the regulations suggest that up to 60% could be met with EVs,” Regan said, “but the rules could also be met with plug-in hybrids, hybrids, etc.”
Specifically, if 56% of new vehicle sales are electric and 16% are hybrids by 2032, manufacturers can comply with the light- and large-vehicle standards the EPA finalized in March. according to To the New York Times. Critics Supporters of the rule have explicitly called it an “EV mandate,” even though the government has argued that the regulation, which effectively mandates increased EV sales, is not a requirement.
Additionally, the EPA also finalized tougher emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles in late March that have been slammed by critics and industry members as “simply unattainable” given the high cost and unproven nature of zero-emission trucks, potentially mandating that 25% of new long-haul trucks and 40% of new medium-duty truck sales be zero-emission or EVs by 2032. according to In The Times.
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