This week, the federal government released new rules that would cut the number of gas-burning cars sold over the next decade. While drafted with good intentions, the move could very well backfire.
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced pollution standards for new vehicles produced for model years 2027–2032. The finalized rule calls for "more stringent emissions standards" for passenger cars, SUVs, and light-duty trucks, with the explicit goal of effecting a switch to electric vehicles (E.V.s). By 2032, the rule anticipates, 56 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States will be fully electric, 16 percent will be hybrids, and fewer than 30 percent will rely solely on an internal combustion engine.
