Directly above picture made by drone of an electric car driving through autumn forest, leaving … [+]
Half a century ago, America’s big cities were choking on smog; air quality there resembled the shocking conditions in Beijing or Delhi we see today. A 1973 photo of New York’s George Washington Bridge disappearing into smog showed the pollution that millions of Americans breathed every day. But what has happened since those grim, hazy days is a remarkable American success story.
Since that time, the air pollution has dropped by a whopping 78%. Today’s vehicles are 98%-99% cleaner for common pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter than they were in 1975. These tremendous reductions have been linked to fewer respiratory illnesses, decreased hospital visits, and ultimately, lives saved and reducing climate impacts. How the U.S. went from grim, hazy days to dramatically cleaner air is a story of American technological innovation, well-designed policy, and steady progress over many years.
The latest evidence from the 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report is clear: this country can protect public health and save consumers at the pump through technological innovation, well-designed policy, and steady progress over many years. Model Year 2023 passenger cars now achieve an impressive average of 27 miles per gallon as fuel economy that has more than doubled since 1975 and new vehicles in 2023 emitted less than half the CO2 per mile of 1975 models.
Over the last several decades, the U.S. automotive industry has thrived under this regulatory framework. EPA’s regulations were successful because they didn’t compel auto companies to use any one technology. Instead, manufacturers can use any technological innovation that meets the EPA standards.
Starting the 1970s, Detroit emerged as a technological leader in both transportation emissions standards and innovative clean car technology. And because the innovative technologies developed here—like the catalytic converter and electronic fuel injection systems—became universally adopted, the regulations ultimately cleaned up emissions and saved lives around the world.
It was once again American innovation that is credited with launching the world’s transition to electrification – Tesla. When launched in 2011, the Tesla S demonstrated that electric vehicles were not only “cool” but also practical and wonderful to drive. Last year, Tesla accounted for about half of US EV sales, and the Model Y was the best-selling EV in the entire world.
However, China is leading the global electrification race today. It alone accounted for some 64% of global EV sales in 2024. Meanwhile, the EU is setting ambitious targets, including a mandate for all new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035. In this context, the U.S. must sustain its momentum in clean vehicle technology to be able to compete and win in global markets.
Policies over the past four years have provided a needed boost to American competitiveness in the EV market. First, EPA once again instituted forward-looking clean car standards. Second, federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Bill provided billions in public investments in a wide range of programs, including funds for the development, installation, and maintenance of a nationwide network of EV charging stations; credits for the purchase of new and used electric vehicles; funding for electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities; and funding to increase the reliability of the electricity grid.
Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US have gone from 6.7% in 2022 to 11.5% in 2023 and more than 195,000 new jobs have been created. Automotive OEMs and suppliers are investing heavily in US in electric vehicle production as they see the future of global mobility to be electric. Globally car manufacturers have committed to invest as much as $1.2 trillion in transitioning the industry of which $ 312 billion is expected to come to the US. That shift will give the U.S. economy a competitive jumpstart, especially as we look to match the dominance of China and EU in EV sales.
As the new Trump administration begins, there is concern that the clean car standards that have spurred so much success might face a roll back. But weakening environmental standards would not only stall environmental progress, but it would also weaken the ability of U.S. automakers to compete around the world—just as stronger emissions standards are becoming the global norm. And as the global automotive market continues to go electric, U.S. manufacturers would find themselves losing market share to competitors in more stable regulatory environments.
For the U.S to compete in the fastest-growing segments of the automotive market, we must maintain this momentum. Rolling back emissions standards or reducing EV incentives would stall domestic progress and cede technological and economic leadership to global competitors.
Instead, as we move forward, the new administration would find tremendous success in maintaining and enhancing clean car standards – it’s a strategy to lock in environmental progress, save hardworking consumers money at the pump, and spur our economic leadership.
The new administration has an historic opportunity to capitalize on our momentum and leadership in the automative sector. The future of our economy, our health, and our planet depends on their choices in the months and years ahead.
