California Asserts Resolve to Push EVs

The California Air Resources Board vows to “push the boundaries” on controlling greenhouse gas emissions with tough zero-emission-vehicle rules for 2022-2025.

CARB’s 660-page assessment of the future of zero-emission vehicles in the U.S. chides the federal government’s plans to promote electric cars beyond 2025 as “very modest.” The board tells Bloomberg News its message is that California will be “very aggressive” in its efforts to curb emissions through 2025 and beyond.

CARB’s stance challenges the incoming Trump administration’s view that U.S. emission and fuel economy standards are needlessly strict and should be capped or rolled back.

Carmakers complain that cheap gasoline is eroding already fragile demand for EVs, making it difficult for them to achieve existing sales targets for such cars. California enjoys a federally mandated right to set its own emission standards. But Scott Pruitt, who Trump has nominated to take control of the Environmental Protection Agency, told a Senate confirmation hearing this week that he would review CARB’s rulemaking authority.