Tesla Inc. is pushing US environmental regulators to keep strong tailpipe emissions standards aimed at boosting electric vehicle sales. The standards, finalized under President Biden, expect over half of all new cars sold in the US to be fully electric by 2032. In a recent filing with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tesla argued that these regulations are a rightful use of the government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases from vehicles.
This comes as the EPA considers abandoning a key finding that greenhouse gas emissions from cars threaten public health. Known as the endangerment finding, it has been crucial for aggressive measures to reduce harmful emissions, including those from vehicles. Tesla emphasized that this finding has provided legal support for the company’s investments in new products and production efforts.
Tesla urged the EPA to keep this finding, describing it as well-supported by factual and scientific evidence. The company noted that it has been part of federal law for over fifteen years.
Contrastingly, other automakers, represented by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, have called for rolling back Biden’s emissions rules. They argue these regulations are unrealistic and hard to meet.
The EPA’s move to reconsider the endangerment finding reflects a larger trend from the previous administration, which aimed to roll back support for electric vehicles. Earlier this year, former President Trump limited California’s ability to set its own emission standards and ended a federal tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, which is set to expire on September 30.
Current debates about emissions standards resonate with concerns about climate change. According to recent studies, transportation accounts for nearly 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, making it a critical area for intervention. As more people turn to social media to express their views on climate policies, many advocate for maintaining strong emission standards to combat global warming effectively.
Keeping emissions standards not only supports electric vehicle growth but also plays a significant role in public health. A report from the World Health Organization found that reducing air pollution could save millions of lives each year.
For more information on emissions regulations, visit the EPA website.
