The Biden administration has unveiled sweeping new regulations to make a majority of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. are all-electric or hybrids by 2032.
President Biden and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the new national pollution standards on Wednesday.
The rules will decrease the amount of pollution allowed from tailpipes each year. 56% the new cars sold in the country would need to be zero-emissions for carmakers to meet the standards by 2032.
The administration claims the new standards will avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and save the average American driver an estimated $6,000 in reduced fuel and maintenance over the life of a vehicle.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will join President Biden's National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi today at an event in Washington, DC to announce the final standards and how they build on President Biden's historic climate and economic record.
"With transportation as the largest source of U.S. climate emissions, these strongest-ever pollution standards for cars solidify America's leadership in building a clean transportation future and creating good-paying American jobs, all while advancing President Biden's historic climate agenda," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
The EPA claims the standards are expected to reduce emissions of health-harming fine particulate matter from gasoline-powered vehicles by over 95%.
The administration promises to build a national network of EV chargers and alternative fuel stations.
"This is a day to celebrate American achievement," said Amanda Leland, Executive Director of the Environmental Defense Fund. "It will bring more jobs for workers, more choices and more savings for consumers, and a healthier future for our children."
Republicans criticized the new standards.
"These regulations represent yet another step toward an unrealistic transition to electric vehicles that Americans do not want and cannot afford," said West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told the Associated Press.
A group of more than 4,000 auto dealers also have asked for a slowdown in the regulations claiming they would not be able to sell vehicles fast enough to meet the targets.
