Tesla has requested the Biden administration to establish stricter vehicle emissions limits than those suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April, in contradiction to the views of other automakers. The EPA’s proposed regulations aim to reduce emissions by 56% and result in 60% of new vehicles being electric by 2030 and 67% by 2032. Tesla, however, argues that the EPA should enforce a more stringent plan that ensures over 69% of vehicles are electric by 2032 and phase out gasoline-powered vehicles as early as 2030.
The automaker also criticized the EPA’s cost assumptions, claiming they overlook the decreasing costs of battery cells and packs as well as efficiency improvements in battery electric vehicles. A trade group representing many automakers, excluding Tesla, argued that the EPA’s proposal is unreasonable and unachievable, suggesting instead a 40%-50% requirement for electric, plug-in electric, and fuel cell vehicles by 2030.
Tesla also advocates for the elimination of credits that internal combustion vehicles can obtain to meet pollution targets. It further argues that the EPA’s models significantly underestimate Tesla’s vehicle sales, predicting less than 100,000 per year, a figure that Tesla contests, stating its U.S. sales in 2022 were nearing 500,000 vehicles.