Over the holiday weekend, the New York Times reported that the US Environmental Protection Agency is drafting a new emissions limit for automotive tailpipes. This regulation would incentivize the production and distribution of all-electric passenger vehicles. This effort would be one of the most stringent climate regulations the Agency has introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Here’s What We Know
- Goal: 67% of US new vehicle sales are to consist of all-electric vehicles by 2032
- Anticipated to be the EPA’s strictest climate regulation
- EPA Press Announcement
Supply-Chain Constraints?
While this would be an ambitious goal for the Biden Administration, it is unclear how this regulation would impact auto manufacturers. Several manufacturers have introduced electric and hybrid vehicles to their line of products. However, the ability to scale production and sales in the next ten years could hinder the Administration’s goal. Passenger cars and trucks are among the most complex consumer products to manufacture due to the various tiers of suppliers for parts (Becher, 2023, as quoted in McNamara, 2023). On the heels of the recent supply-chain crisis, upscaled demand for electric vehicle parts could result in longer production times.
Could This Improve Wetland Functions?
Vehicle effluent is one of the major pollutants in our waterways. With the increased use of electric cars, we could see improved water quality with reduced oil and gas releases. However, while electric vehicles themselves would not produce emissions, increased electricity generation to charge them would impact our air quality. Power plants can emit harmful pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These pollutants can hinder wetland functions as they deposit into soils and surface waters.
The initiative to cap tailpipe emissions seems to cause an air quality Catch-22. If we reduce emissions from tailpipes, would it cause an equal amount of emission power plants to charge electric vehicles? Hopefully, this concern will be addressed in this proposed regulation. Once the announcement becomes available, we will attach a link to this article.
Sources
Capoot, A. (2023). EPA reportedly planning to announce significant limits on tailpipe emissions to boost electric vehicle adoption. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/08/epa-reportedly-planning-to-announce-significant-limits-on-tailpipe-emissions.html
Davenport, C. (2023). E.P.A. Is Said to Propose Rules Meant to Drive Up Electric Car Sales Tenfold. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/08/climate/biden-electric-cars-epa.html
Green, J. (2018). Effects of Car Pollutants on the Environment. Sciencing. Retrieved from https://sciencing.com/difference-between-human-natural-air-pollution-23687.html
McNamara, C. (2023). Speed bumps with & lessons to be learned from the automotive-manufacturing supply chain. Smart Industry. Retrieved from https://www.smartindustry.com/examples-of-transformation/supply-chain/article/33003243/speed-bumps-with-lessons-to-be-learned-from-the-automotivemanufacturing-supply-chain