The Republican-led House of Representatives, on Wednesday, voted to prevent the Biden administration from implementing strict regulations on vehicle emissions, which aimed to have 67% of new vehicles powered by electricity by 2032.
"While EVs may play a large role in the future of the auto industry, Washington should not discount other technologies like hydrogen, hybrids, and the internal combustion engine," said Republican Tim Walberg
A 221 to 197 vote, with five Democrats aligning with 216 Republicans, prompted a veto warning from the White House, expressing concerns that it could "catastrophically impair" the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's capacity to enforce automotive regulations.
Former President Donald Trump, currently aiming for a return to the White House, has pledged to overturn the electric vehicle regulations put forth by the Biden administration.
The EPA, in April, outlined that the proposed standards from 2027 to 2032 would yield a 56% reduction in emissions compared to the existing 2026 requirements, translating to an average annual decrease in pollution of 13%.
The agency anticipates that these regulations would lead to a reduction of over 9 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2055. This reduction is estimated to be more than twice the total amount of CO2 emissions generated in the United States last year.
The final regulations are anticipated to be released early next year.