Donald Trump revokes Joe Biden 50% electric vehicle target
21 January 2025 - 08:42
byDavid Shepardson
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Trump is halting distribution of unspent government funds for vehicle charging stations from a $5 billion fund.
Picture: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump took aim at electric vehicles on Monday, revoking a 2021 executive order signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the US by 2030 were electric.
Biden’s 50% target, which was not legally binding, had won the support of US and foreign carmakers.
Trump said in an executive order he was halting distribution of unspent government funds for vehicle charging stations from a $5bn fund, called for ending a waiver for states to adopt zero emission vehicle rules by 2035 and said his administration would consider ending EV tax credits.
Trump plans to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider rules mandating more stringent emissions rules that would require carmakers to sell between 30% and 56% EVs by 2032 to comply with federal emissions rules, as well as parallel rules issued by the US transportation department.
Trump said in his order on Monday he would seek the repeal of a waiver granted to California in December by the EPA allowingthe state to end the sale of petrol-only vehicles by 2035. That rule has been adopted by 11 other states.
Trump said the EPA should terminate “where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles”.
His order said Trump’s administration should consider “the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favour EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase”.
Trump said previously he could take other actions on EVs, including seeking to repeal the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases as part of broader tax-reform legislation.
Trump campaigned on ending Biden's “EV mandate,” without spelling out specific targeted policies. Biden repeatedly refused to endorse setting a date to end the sale of internal combustion engines.
Trump promised while campaigning to boost US oil production, even as it has hit record highs, and to roll back Biden’s clean-energy initiatives, which also include subsidies for wind and solar power and the mass production of hydrogen.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Donald Trump revokes Joe Biden 50% electric vehicle target
US President Donald Trump took aim at electric vehicles on Monday, revoking a 2021 executive order signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the US by 2030 were electric.
Biden’s 50% target, which was not legally binding, had won the support of US and foreign carmakers.
Trump said in an executive order he was halting distribution of unspent government funds for vehicle charging stations from a $5bn fund, called for ending a waiver for states to adopt zero emission vehicle rules by 2035 and said his administration would consider ending EV tax credits.
Trump plans to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider rules mandating more stringent emissions rules that would require carmakers to sell between 30% and 56% EVs by 2032 to comply with federal emissions rules, as well as parallel rules issued by the US transportation department.
Trump said in his order on Monday he would seek the repeal of a waiver granted to California in December by the EPA allowing the state to end the sale of petrol-only vehicles by 2035. That rule has been adopted by 11 other states.
Trump said the EPA should terminate “where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles”.
His order said Trump’s administration should consider “the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favour EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase”.
Trump said previously he could take other actions on EVs, including seeking to repeal the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases as part of broader tax-reform legislation.
Trump campaigned on ending Biden's “EV mandate,” without spelling out specific targeted policies. Biden repeatedly refused to endorse setting a date to end the sale of internal combustion engines.
Trump promised while campaigning to boost US oil production, even as it has hit record highs, and to roll back Biden’s clean-energy initiatives, which also include subsidies for wind and solar power and the mass production of hydrogen.
Reuters
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