“The Race Is On” – EPA Reportedly Poised to Propose New Limits for Pollution from Cars and Trucks

(Washington, D.C. – April 8, 2023) News reports say that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is poised to propose new limits for the tailpipe pollution from new passenger cars and trucks.

This action reflects the vision set out in President Biden’s Executive Order from August 2021, Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks which was supported by Ford, General Motors, Stellantis (Chrysler), and the UAW. The action also reflects the historic manufacturing and infrastructure investments under the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure law, and EPA’s responsibilities under our nation’s clean air laws to protect all Americans from tailpipe pollution.

“We welcome the news reports that EPA is moving forward with clean air standards that will help ensure by 2030 over half of all new passenger vehicles will have no tailpipe pollution,” said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund. “Tailpipe emissions pollute the air we breathe and worsen severe weather. The good news – the Inflation Reduction Act is turbocharging clean vehicle manufacturing investments, new charging infrastructure and historic job creation while driving down the cost of pollution-free vehicles for all Americans, whether they are purchasing new or used vehicles. The race to cleaner air, a safer climate and more made in America jobs – is on.”

A new report by EDF along with WSP analyzes the historic announced investments in U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing, jobs, and production capacity. The analysis focuses on actual announcements with concrete construction or production start dates, evaluates states across the country where these investments are occurring, analyzes how the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation have dramatically accelerated investments and job creation, and analyzes the electric vehicle production capacity of announced facilities. 

Key takeaways from the report include:

• Investment: Over the last eight years, manufacturers have announced more than $120 billion in concrete investment in U.S. electric vehicle and EV battery manufacturing facilities. Federal policies have dramatically expanded and accelerated these investments: 42% of the announced investments have occurred in the last six months – since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Jobs: Supported by these investments, over the last eight years, manufacturers have announced more than 143,000 new U.S. electric vehicle-related jobs. Of all those new jobs, 32% were announced in the last six months, since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and 66% were announced in the last 15 months since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure law.
• States: Ten states account for 86% of announced electric vehicle manufacturing investments. Michigan, Georgia, and Tennessee each have more than $15 billion in investments supporting more than 15,000 new jobs in each state.
• Production Capacity: In 2026, U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing facilities will be capable of producing more than four million new passenger vehicles each year. That represents 33% of new vehicles sold in 2022. In 2026, U.S. battery manufacturing facilities will be capable of producing batteries for more than 11million new passenger vehicles each year, which represents 84% of new vehicles sold in 2022.

Read more and find the full report here.