California’s environmental groups press California to change electric car regulations

A Jaguar I/Pace electric vehicle drives past some Waymo vehicles being recharged at Waymo’s operations centre in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco, California. This is October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Peter DaSilva

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On Monday, more than 80 environmental groups and other organizations urged Governor Gavin Newsom of California to impose stricter rules promoting electric cars, even though the state is moving at a faster pace than President Joe Biden’s administration.

“Californians are being punished by high gas prices, climate disasters, and deserve the fastest all electric future Gov. Scott Hochberg, of the Center for Biological Diversitys Climate Law Institute signed the letter.

They want Newsom and California’s air regulators to support requiring electric vehicles to be built faster than the current plans. They also want to increase the annual emission reductions for gasoline-powered vehicles. They demanded 7% annual increases in emission reductions for gasoline vehicles, compared to 5% under the standards set by President Barack Obama.

Hochberg stated that Newsom “needs” to demonstrate the state’s climate leadership through a faster electrification timeline.

On Tuesday, Newsom will deliver his State of the State address. Newsom stated in 2020 that the state intended to eliminate the sale new light duty internal combustion engines by 2035.

California is home to approximately 11% of all U.S. vehicle exports. It is also the largest state market and many states have adopted its green vehicle mandates.

According to the groups, California is aiming to have 61% zero emission electric vehicle sales by 2030. Although President Joe Biden set a goal to have 50% of new vehicle sales be electric or plug in electric, he has not specified a date for phasing out gasoline-vehicle purchases.

The letterThe petition, which was also signed by Greenpeace USA and the California Democratic Party Environmental Caucus, as well as Friends of the Earth, asks Newsom to require 80% or more zero-emission vehicles by 2030.

Newsom’s Office did not immediately respond.

The EPA stated in April that it was restoring legal authority to California to establish strict vehicle emission rules and zero emission vehicle mandates. The EPA granted California a waiver in 2013 to establish vehicle rules. The waiver was revoked by former President Donald Trump in 2019.

Nick Conger, EPA spokesperson, stated Monday that the agency was “working to finalize a California waiver decision and expects to issue a determination in the near future.”

Some automakers raised concerns about the EPA making the waiver retroactive and the possible impact it could have upon emissions requirements.

In December, the EPA approved new vehicle emissions rules. They restore Trump’s targets. They require a 28.3% decrease in vehicle emissions by 2026.

Biden’s push in Congress for EV tax credits to be increased to up to $12,500 per automobile and reinstated for General Motors (GM.N.O) and Teslas (TSLA.O) is still stalled, along other provisions to boost EVs.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing and editing by Aurora Ellis

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