The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed tough new emissions standards for cars, trucks and other light-duty vehicles that could see electric vehicle sales increase nearly tenfold by 2032.
In what EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan called a “very ambitious proposal” in a call with reporters, the rules would greatly expand current emissions standards set to expire in 2026 and cover clean-car technology that does not was available when the previous standards were set.
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What does this mean for consumers? If the regulations are followed by automakers, the EPA said, electric vehicles will represent a growing segment of car sales in the coming years, reaching 67 percent of the market by the time 2,032 models roll off the assembly line.
In addition, the requirements for better fuel economy and lower maintenance costs could save car owners an average of $12,000 over the lifetime of their vehicle.
Reagan had no timeline for adopting the new standards, which will go through a long period of public comment and could be substantially revised.
The EPA also proposed stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles such as delivery trucks, school buses and tractor-trailers. The combined result of the new rules will be a reduction of about 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide by 2055, Regan said.
“By proposing the most ambitious pollution standards for cars and trucks, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris administration’s promise to protect people and the planet, delivering critical reductions in dangerous air and climate pollution and ensuring significant economic benefits like less fuel and maintenance costs for families,” he added in a statement.
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