Unpacking the White House’s new plan to cut carbon emissions and ramp up electric car sales.
The White House has unveiled a new strategy to cut vehicle emissions and put way more electric cars on the road. Here’s a breakdown of the new regulations:
What was Biden’s order?
President Biden signed an executive order Thursday setting a target that half of all new cars in the U.S. be electric by 2030. General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis (the maker of Chrysler) said in a joint statement they’ll pledge to reach that target — or come close — if Congress can pass an infrastructure bill that includes building a national network of charging stations and incentives to expand electric car manufacturing.
What are the new electric car requirements?
Biden is also reviving the auto mileage standards set in 2012 by the Obama administration, which were rolled back under former President Trump. That policy requires all new cars sold by 2026 to average more than 50 miles per gallon, which White House officials called “the most stringent federal greenhouse gas standards in U.S. history.”
How will more electric cars affect the environment?
Gas-powered vehicles account for 28% of the country’s carbon emissions, so accelerating the shift to electric cars will be key to lowering our carbon footprint. Biden also hopes to create jobs and compete with China, where about 70% of electric vehicle batteries are made.
