Biden admin unveils strict auto emissions standards to speed EV shift

President Joe Biden's administration announced Wednesday revised pollution standards for cars and trucks meant to accelerate the U.S. auto industry's shift to electric to mitigate climate change.

The rules set ambitious emission reductions for 2032 but are moderated compared with preliminary standards unveiled last April. Michael S. Regan, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  said "I'm pleased to announce the strongest vehicle pollution technology standard ever finalized in United States history.

These technology standards for model years 2027 through 2032 will avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon pollution. That’s four times the total carbon pollution from the entire transportation in the year 2021." Those shifts were criticized as a sop to corporations from at least one environmental group, even as the final rule won praise from other leading NGOs focused on climate change.