Trump EPA takes aim at Biden emissions regulations

The White House, Washington, D.C.  [Creative Commons license by dcjohn]The Trump Administration is looking to roll back stricter emissions standards put in place by the Biden administration covering both light-duty passenger cars and heavy-duty commercial trucks. The EPA said Wednesday in a press release that it was targeting greenhouse-gas emissions standards for model years 2027-2032, as well as rules further...

DOT contradicts itself, claims cleaner cars will jeopardize safety

Sean Duffy signs first memorandum as U.S. Secretary of TransportationNew Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has ordered the NHTSA to reconsider fuel economy standards The DOT says high fuel economy standards will lead to higher prices and therefore an older fleet The DOT says an older fleet will make cars less safe The Trump administration is wasting no time in attempting to roll back federal emissions...

EPA approves California EV mandate, before likely Trump reversal

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT PerformanceOne waiver allows California to set stricter rules for new vehicles—progressively mandating EVs A second EPA waiver green-lights the state's heavy-duty vehicle emissions rules Trump may attempt to withdraw the waiver, continuing the regulatory ping-pong The EPA on Wednesday granted two requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB)...

Supreme Court rejects challenge to California EV mandate—for now

Supreme Court of the United StatesThe U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear a challenge to California's emissions authority, allowing the state to, for the time being, continue with plans to gradually phase out sales of new internal-combustion vehicles. The Court denied a petition by Ohio and other states to consider the merits of challenges by oil and gas companies to...

Toyota says California-led EV mandates “impossible” to meet

2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWDToyota on Friday gave the first indication of a renewed pushback against California's ability to set stricter emissions standards and wind down sales of gasoline cars. "At this point, it looks impossible," Toyota North America COO Jack Hollis said in a virtual roundtable with CNBC and other media, regarding California rules that call for 35% of...

BMW CEO says Europe needs to cancel the 2035 gas-engine ban

Oliver ZipseEurope needs to rethink its looming ban on vehicles with a gas engine, according to BMW's CEO BMW CEO Oliver Zips said the ban will force automakers to rely on China There's concern about battery supply and competing with Chinese EVs BMW CEO Oliver Zipse on Tuesday called for an end to Europe's planned phaseout of new internal-combustion vehicle...

Last remaining UK coal power plant has closed

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)The U.K. powered down the final coal power plant In 2017 the U.K. set a goal of 2025 for the end of coal use The U.S. is working on increasing the use of renewable resources The U.K. has closed its last coal-fired power plant, according to a report by energy think tank Ember marking an important step in the transition toward cleaner energy. The...

Bridgestone’s latest tires have 55% recycled and renewable materials

Bridgestone Potenza Sport tire made with recycled and renewable materialsBridgestone is now producing a tire with 55% recycled and renewable materials, to be used on the Audi E-Tron GT, the automaker's current flagship performance EV. The tire in question is a variant of the Bridgestone Potenza Sport summer performance tire, in this case tailored specifically to the E-Tron GT, according Bridgestone. The company noted...

Italy says Europe’s 2035 gas-engine ban is “absurd”

Ferrari e-buildingItalian officials want the European Union to review a plan to end sales of new internal-combustion cars by 2035 earlier than scheduled, reports Automotive News. "The ban must be changed," Italian energy minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told Automotive News Europe on the sidelines of the TEHA business forum in Cernobbio, on the shores of Italy's...

GOP Senators go after inflated EV efficiency in fleet standards

2023 GMC Hummer EV PickupIn their ongoing effort to push back against stricter emissions standards expected to lead to more EV sales, Senate Republicans have drafted a bill calling for regulators to change the way EV efficiency is calculated. Dubbed the Recalculating Electric Vehicle Efficiency for Accuracy and Legitimacy (REVEAL) Act, the bill questions the methods the...