"Biden Eases EV Rule But Keeps Heat On Automakers"

"The Department of Energy formula is the first of several clean car regulations the administration is rolling out to encourage the president’s preferred EV future."

"The Biden administration released one of several coming car regulations Tuesday, a clean vehicle formula designed to push automakers to build more fuel-efficient or electric vehicles.

The Department of Energy softened its “petroleum equivalency factor” after complaints from the car industry, though environmentalists said the final rule is still strict enough to move auto fleets in a more fuel-efficient direction.

“The automakers’ free ride is over,” said Pete Huffman, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This important update from the Department of Energy will curtail automakers’ use of phantom credits they used to keep selling gas guzzlers. They now need to hit the accelerator on more fuel-efficient vehicles, saving consumers money at the pump.”"

Mike Lee reports for E&E News March 19, 2024.

Source: E&E News, 03/20/2024