Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards Not Appropriate
Overview:
As part of the 2012 rulemaking establishing the model year (MY) 2017-2025 light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) standards, EPA made a regulatory commitment to conduct a Midterm Evaluation (MTE) of the standards for MY 2022-2025. As a part of this process, EPA is examining a wide range of factors, such as developments in powertrain technology, vehicle electrification, light-weighting and vehicle safety impacts, the penetration of fuel efficient technologies in the marketplace, consumer acceptance of fuel efficient technologies, trends in fuel prices and the vehicle fleet, employment impacts, and many others.
EPA’s regulations require several formal steps in the MTE process, including opportunities for public input.
Step 1: Draft Technical Assessment Report (TAR) issued jointly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with opportunity for public comment. (July 2016)
Step 2: The EPA Administrator made a Proposed Determination with opportunity for public comment. (November 2016) (This step is being reevaluated under the direction of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt)
Step 3: The EPA Administrator must make a final determination with regard to whether the standards remain appropriate or should be changed by April 1, 2018.
April 2, 2018:
The Administrator signed the Mid-term Evaluation Final Determination which finds that the model year 2022-2025 greenhouse gas standards are not appropriate in light of the record before EPA and, therefore, should be revised. The Federal Register Notice announcing the Administrator’s decision is available for review below:
Auto Alliance response:
This was the right decision, and we support the Administration for pursuing a data-driven effort and a single national program as it works to finalize future standards. We appreciate that the Administration is working to find a way to both increase fuel economy standards and keep new vehicles affordable to more Americans.
This week’s announcement was the expected necessary step that sets in motion a future rule-making where the government will propose a range of alternatives – sharing the data gathered to support various options — and seek public comments.
Automakers are committed to increasing fuel economy requirements and the key to achieving higher standards is selling more of the highly fuel-efficient vehicles, including 50 models of electric cars, now in dealer showrooms. Consumer research shows that the monthly payment is the top concern when car-shopping. So, to ensure ongoing fuel economy improvement, the wisest course of action is to keep new vehicles affordable so more consumers can replace an older car with a new vehicle that uses much less fuel – and offers more safety features. Automakers continue to develop safety and other innovations and we want to get these technologies – and all their benefits – on the road as soon as possible.
Maintaining a single national program is critical to ensuring that cars remain affordable. We look forward to working with key stakeholders and the State of California once EPA and NHTSA begin a rule-making. As in the past, we will review their proposed rule through the lens of its impact on jobs and meeting our customers’ needs for affordable, safe, clean and fuel-efficient transportation.
