Electric Vehicles Partially Represent the Future of Driving in the U.S.

TL/DR โ€“

Hop in, weโ€™re roadtripping through the Biden administrationโ€™s car emissions plan. Weโ€™ve got less of the electric dream and more of the gas reality. So, instead of the original 67% electric car shift by 2030, weโ€™re now looking at a hybrid takeover, with 56% electric and 13% plug-in hybrids. Donโ€™t let appearances fool you though; these hybrids may be dressed in eco-friendly green, but theyโ€™re still gas guzzlers at heart.


The U.S. Driving Future: Partially Electric

The EPAโ€™s final rule on car emissions will result in fewer electric vehicles than anticipated last year.

Bidenโ€™s plans to electrify the car industry represents a shift, with gasoline engines playing a supporting role. Originally, the EPA estimated that 67 percent of new car sales would be electric within eight years. However, the updated proposal accommodates plug-in hybrids and gas-fueled vehicles, predicting that 56 percent of vehicles will be fully electric by 2032, with 13 percent as plug-in hybrids.

Carmakers and EPA Administrator Michael Regan praised the changes as a practical step forward in reducing climate-warming pollution, while allowing the industry time to adapt. Regan emphasized that the environmental integrity was not compromised. โ€œWe believe it makes a stronger rule, a more durable rule,โ€ he said.

But the reliance on plug-in hybrids adds uncertainty, as they have limited electric range and their pollution level depends heavily on consumer driving habits. โ€œIf you donโ€™t plug it in, youโ€™re running on gas,โ€ said Dan Becker, director of the safe climate campaign at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Big automakers like General Motors and Toyota, planning to lean on plug-in hybrids in the near future, view this rule change as a win. However, it is important to acknowledge that the rule doesnโ€™t dictate engine type but sets an emissions limit.

The ruling covers vehicles built from 2027-2032. It originally aimed to support battery-electric vehicles as the lowest-cost way to cut emissions. But after pushback from manufacturers, dealers, and labor groups, the EPA reevaluated plug-in hybrids. The final rule eases the timeline, pushing the biggest emissions cuts to the last few years of this period. It still targets to cut car pollution by 50% by 2032, preventing over 7 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2055.

Despite these modified paths, car companies still face tough decisions balancing short-term consumer preference for hybrid cars against the declining price of electric vehicles and increased competition from low-priced EVs manufactured abroad.

Original Story at www.scientificamerican.com