When in Italy: Zipping to Lake Como in an Alfa Romeo Giulia



EV mandate? Not so fast.

Last week, the House passed a resolution rejecting the Biden administration's rule imposing strict new emissions standards for American carmakers. The rule would go into effect starting with 2027 model year vehicles.

As we wait for the Senate to vote on the resolution, I thought I'd share my five roadblocks to an all-EV future.

1. Cost

These vehicles to tend to be expensive — and I'm not just talking sticker price. Insurance and maintenance expenses are generally higher as well. This is a huge sticking point for many American consumers.

2. Inconvenience

Until charging stations are as plentiful as gas pumps, many consumers are going to stick with what they know. Finding a charging station simply needs to be much easier and more convenient — especially for those who lack a home charger.

3. China

Our biggest rival is going all-in on cheap EVs, which are being manufactured just across the border in Mexico. If they're able to take advantage of North American trade rules, they could flood the market with low-priced EV options. This could be an "extinction level event" for the American car industry.

4. Consumer choice

Consumers — especially American consumers — don't like being told what to buy. You want people to want EVs? Start by fixing numbers 1 and 2 above. Even if you do, some people are still going to want combustion engines. And that should be OK.

5. Hybrids

Who wants an EV when you can have a hybrid? The phrase "best of both worlds" comes to mind. Or here's a novel thought: Why not let us take our pick among EVs, internal combustion engine vehicles, and hybrids? Sounds like a win-win-win to me.

'Como' va?

In other news, I've been in Italy, where EV more often indicates "extra-virgin" olive oil than it does electric vehicle.

I had the pleasure of test driving the 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce from Milan to Lake Como. Not only is the drive incredibly scenic, it's perfect for putting the Giulia through its paces, with narrow roads and hairpin turns getting the most out of its crisp handling.

The Giulia's a beauty too, which makes the stunning northern Italian countryside the perfect backdrop.

For my full report on the journey — and how the Giulia handled it — check out my video below:

- YouTube youtu.be

Biden's EV mandate hits roadblock



The electric vehicle mandate may be running out of juice.

On September 20, House Democrats and Republicans joined forces to overturn a Biden administration rule setting tougher emissions standards for car manufacturers starting in 2027.

'The federal government has no authority and no right to mandate what type of car or truck Americans can purchase for their everyday lives.'

Although the rule does not explicitly impose an electric vehicle mandate, it is expected to force manufacturers to electrify their fleets in order to comply.

The joint resolution nullifying the rule passed in a 215-191 vote.

Breaking ranks

Eight Democrats — Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Texas, Yadira Caraveo of Colorado, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, and Mary Sattler Peltola of Alaska — broke ranks to vote for the resolution.

One Republican, Rep. Brian Fitzgerald of Pennsylvania, voted against the measure.

Ahead of the vote, the White House announced its opposition to the resolution, contending that it would prompt uncertainty in the U.S. auto market and supply chains and cede the electric vehicle and battery markets to China.

The Biden administration policy statement said: “Passage of H.J. Res. 136 would also artificially constrain consumer vehicle choice, weaken U.S. manufacturing and energy security, and harm public health.”

The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition echoed the administration’s view.

The new standards, the group said, are both “reasonable” and “widely supported across the board by everyone from vehicle manufacturers to union workers.”

The American Energy Alliance, on the other hand, celebrated the vote against these standards as a victory for consumers.

Freedom of choice

“Americans deserve the freedom of choice to make their own informed decisions about their transportation options. I commend the House on their passage of this resolution today and look forward to seeing it on the Senate calendar soon,” AEA President Thomas Pyle said in a statement.

The measure will now head to the Senate for a vote.

Democrats control the upper chamber by a razor-thin majority (51-49) thanks to several independent members who choose to caucus with the party.

Manchin pumps brakes

One of those members, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia (I), has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s energy policies — particularly on electric vehicles. In a statement, he said:

The federal government has no authority and no right to mandate what type of car or truck Americans can purchase for their everyday lives. ... This reckless and ill-informed rule will impose what is effectively an EV mandate without ensuring the security of our supply chains from nations like China and without a realistic transition plan that addresses our domestic infrastructure needs.

Manchin is expected to be a key swing vote for Republicans in ensuring their resolution passes.

President Joe Biden, however, has promised to veto the measure if it makes it to his desk.

Biden's EPA finalizes 'strongest ever' emission standards for freight trucks, buses



The Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it finalized the "strongest ever greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles," including freight trucks and buses.

A recent press release from the agency explained that the new restrictions will impact vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032.

"The standards will avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and provide $13 billion in annualized net benefits to society related to public health, the climate, and savings for truck owners and operators. The final standards will also reduce dangerous air pollution, especially for the 72 million people in the United States who live near truck freight routes, bear the burden of higher levels of pollution, and are more likely to be people of color or come from low-income households," the EPA claimed.

According to the agency, the strict standards will still grant trucking companies the "time and flexibility" to comply with the new restrictions.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated that the emission standards would "significantly cut pollution from the hardest working vehicles on the road."

"Building on our recently finalized rule for light- and medium-duty vehicles, EPA's strong and durable vehicle standards respond to the urgency of the climate crisis by making deep cuts in emissions from the transportation sector," Regan added.

The EPA announced last week the "strongest-ever" vehicle emission standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032, Blaze News previously reported. It claimed the clampdown would "avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and provide nearly $100 billion of annual net benefits to society, including $13 billion of annual public health benefits due to improved air quality, and $62 billion in reduced annual fuel costs, and maintenance and repair costs for drivers."

Republicans, who are largely opposed to the EPA's new plan, called the standards on passenger vehicles an electric vehicle "mandate."

Regan denied the claims, stating that the emission regulations are "clearly" not an EV mandate because there are "multiple pathways companies can choose to comply."

The American Trucking Association, a national trade group for the trucking industry, slammed the EPA's restrictions as "entirely unachievable given the current state of zero-emission technology, the lack of charging infrastructure & restrictions on the power grid."

"We are fully committed to the road to zero emissions, but the path to get there must be paved with commonsense," the ATA continued in a post on X. "While we are disappointed with today's rule, we will continue to work with EPA to address its shortcomings and advance emission-reduction targets and timelines that are both realistic and durable, and that account for the operational realities of our industry."

In addition to freight trucks, the emission standards will also impact school buses, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, utility trucks, shuttles, ambulances, recreational vehicles, and moving vans.

Under the EPA's new rules, approximately 25% of long-haul freight trucks and 40% of medium-sized trucks could be zero-emission vehicles by 2032.

Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers' Association, told the New York Times that the EPA's restrictions will hit small business owners the hardest.

"This administration seems dead set on regulating every local mom-and-pop business out of existence with its flurry of unworkable environmental mandates," Spencer said.

The Department of Energy released an energy grid plan earlier this month to build the infrastructure for electric- and hydrogen-powered long-haul freight trucks. The administration's strategy involves installing charging and refueling stations along 12,000 miles of high-traffic roads over a 16-year period.

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UAW backs Biden's 'strongest-ever' vehicle emission standards, claims it won't cut autoworker jobs



The United Auto Workers union recently voiced its support for the Biden administration's finalized vehicle emission standards, according to a Wednesday statement from the union.

The administration's Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the "strongest-ever" pollution regulations, effectively forcing most new car sales to be electric vehicles by 2032, Blaze News previously reported.

The regulations impact light-duty vehicles starting with the model year 2027, ensuring that more than 56% of new cars sold are zero-emissions by 2032. The restrictions targeting gas-powered vehicles aim to push the American market to opt for hybrid- and electric-powered alternatives.

The finalized standards scaled back on the agency's previous proposal by rolling out a slower implementation to allow automakers additional time to reach the administration's goals. The decision to pull back the standards was made after several manufacturers called the EPA's initial proposal impractical.

However, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan assured reporters this week that the slower rollout would not impact the end target.

"Let me be clear: Our final rule delivers the same, if not more, pollution reduction than we set out in our proposal," he stated.

On Wednesday, the UAW declared its support for the new EPA restrictions on light-duty vehicles, noting that the agency considered its concerns when finalizing the standards. It called the new regulations "more feasible" than the agency's initial proposal.

The union reaffirmed its support for "protecting the environment" by "creat[ing] a cleaner domestic auto industry," claiming that the "climate crisis has taken a heavy toll on working people."

"We reject the fearmongering that says tackling the climate crisis must come at the cost of union jobs. Ambitious and achievable regulations can support both. We call on the Biden Administration to hold automakers accountable so that this rule is not used as an excuse to cut or offshore jobs," the UAW said.

Late last year, Stellantis announced upcoming layoffs, partly due to "the need to manage sales of the vehicles they produce to comply with California emissions regulations that are measured on a state-by-state basis."

The union called on the federal government to implement "tariff protections" to ensure the EV industry would not become dominated by import automakers.

In January, the UAW endorsed President Biden in the upcoming presidential election, stating that he is "someone who stands up with us and supports our cause."

Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, posted a statement on X in response to the EPA's announcement.

"The @EPA final rule is ambitious and challenging, and meeting these goals will require close public-private cooperation. @Ford is absolutely committed to lowering CO2 emissions while offering customers real choice across hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles," Farley stated.

Even the UAW claims that the EV market is "growing." However, car rental company Hertz, which committed significant investments to expanding its EV fleet, announced in January that it would sell off 25% of its inventory due to "expenses related to collision and damage." On Monday, the company announced that its CEO, Stephen Scherr, who supported the switch to EVs, would be stepping down at the end of the month. The company stated that it would use the profits from the sale of the EVs to purchase gas-powered vehicles to restock its fleet.

Meanwhile, thousands of automobile dealerships nationwide have reported that the demand for EVs has significantly slowed. In November, a coalition of nearly 4,000 dealerships urged the Biden administration to roll back its new "unrealistic" emissions standards, claiming that EVs are "stacking up on our lots" despite "deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives." The auto dealers called the EPA's proposed regulations "unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand."

The EPA contends that the move to zero-emission vehicles will "avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and provide nearly $100 billion of annual net benefits to society, including $13 billion of annual public health benefits due to improved air quality, and $62 billion in reduced annual fuel costs, and maintenance and repair costs for drivers."

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