The EPA’s initial proposal suggested vehicle standards from 2027 to 2032 that would reduce emissions by 56% and result in approximately 60% of new vehicles being electric by 2030 and 67% by 2032. However, Tesla, in comments made public on Friday, urged the EPA to adopt a more stringent plan, aiming for over 69% of vehicles in 2032 to be electric.
Tesla further expressed its belief that the EPA could mandate the end of gasoline-powered vehicles as early as 2030. It argued that there is a “sound legal basis” for even more rigorous standards than what the EPA currently proposes.
In addition, Tesla disagreed with the EPA’s cost assumptions, deeming them too high and not taking into account the documented and projected decline in battery costs and improvements in battery electric vehicle (BEV) range achieved through efficiency gains.
Contrarily, a trade group representing major automakers (excluding Tesla) urged the EPA to soften its proposal, deeming it unreasonable and unachievable. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which includes General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Hyundai, recommended requirements for 40% to 50% electric, plug-in electric, and fuel cell vehicles by 2030.
Tesla also called for the EPA to tighten its proposal by eliminating credits for internal combustion vehicles to meet pollution targets.
Regarding its own sales projections, Tesla criticized the EPA’s modeling, claiming it significantly underestimates their vehicle sales. Tesla’s internal modeling suggests that zero-emission models will account for 28% of vehicle sales in 2026, while the EPA’s projections are less than 100,000 vehicles per year. Tesla argued that this projection is unfounded, unjustified, and weakens the rule’s effectiveness, pointing out that its U.S. sales in 2022 already approached 500,000 vehicles.
Tesla disclosed that it had confidentially shared production and sales estimates with the EPA to support its stance.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and David Holmes)
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
