Representatives from the California Air Resources Board will meet with the White House next week to discuss the state’s opposition to the Trump administration’s proposed fuel economy regulations.
The White House put forth a proposal in the summer that would see it abandon the Obama Administration’s fuel economy standards for 2022-2025, with Trump saying they were too strict. At the same time, the Trump administration said it would strip California of the ability to set its own vehicle emissions laws, with EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler saying he hoped the country could eventually reach “one national standard,” for fuel economy.
California, along with 19 other states including New York and Illinois, have demanded that the White House drop the proposal. The states also indicated they would seek litigation against regulators if they were to go ahead with it, Reuters reports.
Automakers are also getting in on the spat. General Motors, along with Volkswagen and Toyota, formed a consortium last month urging the government the find a healthy middle ground for future emissions regulations. Many automakers view the Obama-era fuel economy laws as unrealistic, but don’t fully back the proposed regulation freeze.
While GM wants to see the 2022-2025 regulations loosened, it has also called on Trump to back a “National Zero Emissions Vehicle Program” that would expand the number of EVs on the road between now and 2030. The ZEV program would see the expansion of EV credit programs, along with the establishment of a so-called ” Zero Emissions Task Force” that would promote policies “complementary” to EVs. Enacting the ZEV program and getting the 2022-2025 regulations would be a win-win for GM – it would save regulatory costs on its internal combustion engine cars and help get more butts in the Bolt EV and any of its future electric products.
CARB, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Transportation will meet through a video call next Tuesday to discuss Trump’s proposal. It will be the first time they have met to discuss the topic since late September.
Source: Reuters
Comments
This has been long overdue. The two sides needed to work together decades ago.
The both need to sit down and broker a fair deal for all and not just keep jacking up numbers on companies that have to pass the cost on to al, of us.
Many anymore can no longer even afford a car or to keep it on the road due to the regulations.
I agree with getting rid of the Obama regulations, because honestly they are complete BS. Loosening the regs would allow automakers to do a lot of different things along with the fact that Zero emissions things.
I think the govt needs to make additional regulations that are exempt. Trucks that weight over a certain amount are not part of the companies MPG avg. The additional exemptions could be for real performance cars! And I am not just talking about a normal Camaro! Carmaro SS and up, Corvette base and up. Make them pay a gas guzzler tax when purchased.
Automotive companies then could get creative with a very small amount of the performance vehicles. Without having to worry about it affecting the rest of the company just like the larger trucks.
As for normal cars, increase MPGs as much as possible
It was more than just Obama.
For too long too many groups are arguing and enacting laws on personal agendas with no regard for the big picture.
In the end it just makes things much more difficult to meet and much more expensive for the customer buying a vehicle.
I would like to see CARB back off their future numbers that are not realistic to meet. But I would like to see the Federal goverment also continue to hold back the taxes on EV and help invest in getting a universal charging system set with the automakers and help get infrastructure to provide more charging.
If anything cut breaks to retailers willing to help build national charging systems.
This is a deal we all need to work together and not be on private agendas driven by special interest on either side.
The automakers need help to meet these numbersas development cost are major and stock prices are stagnate due to high cost.
It is not just mpg but also emissions that are a problem.
Zero emissions, beef reductions, dramatic population reduction.
That’s not a wish list. It’s a must list. We have no choice.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
They’ve now met how many times? Just another volly…If the administration creates regs, it will be a years long battle in court before their regs are implemented…