Republican lawmakers are seeking to prevent stricter emissions regulations that require more electric vehicles, even as many Republican-led states benefit from new manufacturing jobs linked to the electric vehicle boom.
One bill in the House of Representatives called the Preservation of Choices in Vehicle Purchase Act that was introduced in March and moved by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee to Comprehensive Committee consideration last week. It seeks to “amend the Clean Air Act to prevent the elimination of the sale of internal combustion engines.”
Federal emissions rules unofficially mandated electric vehiclesbut they are predicted to lead to 67% of EVs by 2032. California has passed the rules, however Effectively mandate electric vehicle sales by 2035.
2022 GMC Hummer EV pre-production at Factory Zero in Detroit, Michigan
Another recently introduced House bill, the Automotive Retail Sales Choices Act (CARS) would block proposed EPA regulations and would ban regulations that mandate any particular technology or restrict vehicle sales of a certain type of powertrain, according to the report. Fox News.
The measure was introduced by Republican Representatives Tim Walberg and Andrew Clyde, who represent Michigan and Georgia, respectively. In a statement, Clyde said the rules could “enrich China” and that it was an attack on rural America, but the reality is that these laws give the impetus to US-built electric vehicles that don’t exist to produce internal combustion vehicles, which can continue to move overseas, including to China.
Kia EV made in Georgia
The state Clyde represents is one of several states in the Midwest and Southeast that are considered part of the EV “battery belt,” which stretches from Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, down to Georgia and South Carolina, and includes several states whose legislators simultaneously seek EV manufacturing jobs but resist pro-product policies. Georgia is expected to benefit from major electric vehicle production projects, including electric vehicle assembly plants for Rivian And Hyundai-Kia is expected to start vehicle production in 2024. Hyundai’s assembly plant will be supported by a battery factory joint venture with LG.
Michigan’s auto industry has transitioned to electric vehicles with projects like General Motors’ “Factory Zero,” repurposing the automaker’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
The outcome of the 2024 presidential election will ultimately determine emissions regulations for the next few years. Reuters recently reported that former President Donald Trump, one of the Republican candidates running for office in 2024, has vowed to “end” green car regulations.
