General Motors stated on Friday it wants the Trump administration to support a nationwide program to increase the sale of zero emission vehicles such as electric cars, even as the government has proposed ending California’s ability to need more clean vehicles.
GM states a nationwide program modeled on California’s effort could bring 7 million electric vehicles on U.S. roads by 2030. The automaker stated the requirements would not apply if “battery cost or infrastructure targets are not practicable within the time frame.”
GM product chief Mark Reuss informed reporters that governments and industries in Asia and Europe are working with each other “to enact policies now to hasten the shift to an all-electric future. It’s very simple: America has the opportunity to lead in the technologies of the future.”
A national mandate also would produce jobs and decrease fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and “make EVs more affordable,” Reuss added.
GM has stated it plans to provide 20 EVs by 2023 worldwide.
The Trump administration in August proposed overturning Obama administration fuel regulations and freezing standards at 2020 model year levels through 2026.
The administration also proposed prohibiting California from setting its own emissions requirements or requiring more zero emission automobiles. The administration is also thinking about eliminating all emissions compliance credits that automakers receive for building EVs.
Automakers and others have until Friday to submit comments on the proposed emissions revisions. Major automakers say they do not back freezing requirements.
California wants 15.4 percent of vehicle sales by 2025 to be electric vehicles or other zero emission vehicles. Nine other states, consisting Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, have adopted those requirements. In January, California Governor Jerry Brown set a target of 5 million zero-emission vehicles in California by 2030.
A nationwide ZEV plan would give car companies more flexibility to finish a single nationwide target, rather than specific state sales requirements, GM stated.
