House passes a bill that could prolong ICE-powered vehicle sales
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, or H.R. 1435, which restricts the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing any waiver for new regulations that would ban the sale or use of new vehicles with internal combustion engines.
The bill passed with some bipartisan support, 222 to 190, with eight Democrats joining their Republican colleagues in the majority. The bill is in response to action by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which approved requirements on automakers that would effectively ban the sale of new ICE-powered cars and light trucks by 2035 in favor of zero-emission vehicles, like full battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. To institute its plan, California would need a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption provisions from the EPA.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Washington) shepherded H.R. 1435 through the committee in July. “Seventeen other states have similar bans on internal combustion engines that would be triggered if EPA approves California’s request. This affects 40 percent of the United States’ new vehicle market.”
“California’s discriminatory waiver request would set a costly and dangerous precedent,” said Rep. John Joyce (R-Pennsylvania), who authored the bill. “One state should not be able to set national policy and Americans should not be coerced into making purchases they cannot afford.” The CARB request “is a heavy-handed proposal that only takes away choices from American consumers.”
The bill also had the support of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which said in a memo from Chamber senior vice-president Evan Jenkins: “When added to growing auto sector challenges related to labor tensions, global competition, and longer-term inflation and supply chain challenges, regulatory burdens could exacerbate sectoral headwinds and increase the likelihood that negative consequences spill over into the broader economy.”
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-New York), a co-sponsor of the bill, was among the most outspoken Republicans. “Leaders like New York Governor Kathy Hochul are attempting to shove their far-left Green New Deal agenda down the throats of the American consumers, shamelessly pushing out-of-touch policies that would ban gas-powered cars in favor of electric vehicles, ultimately eliminating consumer choice. For many communities in Upstate New York and the North Country, electric vehicles are not feasible,” said Stefanik.
Most Democrats viewed the bill differently, expressing the opinion during floor debate that it would lengthen the nation’s dependence on petroleum. “This bill is a love letter to Big Oil—legally mandating that Americans think first of the internal combustion engine before considering air quality or public health,” Rep. Doris Matsui (D-California) said.
The next step is passage in the U.S. Senate, which may be more difficult. And if it does pass, President Biden has indicated he would likely veto the measure. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), the co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, has introduced S. 2090, a Senate companion bill to H.R. 1435, which includes the same bill text. It awaits a vote.
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The House is easy. The Democratic Senate is where this will get locked up.
The Conservatives need to make this a campaign topic as it is a big deal to many voters.
It is not that people want dirty air etc. But they want this change to come when and if it is ready. To force it thought will only make a lot of expensive issues for most but also hurt the economy.
Contrary to AOC the world is not going to burn up soon or run out of oil in the next ten years or 100 to be honest.
They need to continue development but let the products improve to where they are equal in use and completive in price so people can chose it on their own.
They sure made nice cars back then … Jennifer Connelly seemingly made a ” wise” investment …
Sorry people… I guess this post does not concern or relates to this article. My appologies…
I want to buy leaded gas again!!!
See how dumb it sounds? If everything were left to “consumer choice” we’d still be using asbestos in houses, lead in paint and gas, and car without seatbelts.
True
We are from the government and we are here to help you to buy cars that are not fully developed to the point they will replace the cars you have.
Oh and sorry but they are still not cheap enough to cost the same so you will have to spend more on a poorer car you really don’t want.
That really sound dumb too.
This deal is one of compromise and working together. I feel EV product will be perfected and cost competitive but as it looks now 2035 is not going to be long enough to accomplish this.
Now daily driver cars that make up the majority could possibly be ready. But to force everyone into an item they do not want or see the value in is just going to create more resistance.
Let the market work a little longer at building a better cheaper EV and then you will find better acceptance vs now. Natural migration is best.
As it is the new Green agenda folks are trying to force this through.
Like I stated the world is not going to burn up and we are not going to run out of oil in the next 100 years so we have time. Also we have to also work out the infrastructure of charging, Grids and other issues like people in public housing or apartments on where they can charge.
This transition needs to be done with common sense. That is in short supply in DC.
As for your led comment. While it has been removed from a number of fuels they let aircraft go longer with lead as it was less of a risk to let them use it vs removing it and then have aircraft engines fail.
As it is now the phosphorus being removed from our oils are damaging flat tappet cams. I am using racing oil now to protect my engine.
Even your example is tenuous at best. Lead in gas never caused widespread brain damage in kids. I was born and grew up in the 70s. Myself and my age cohort are no dumber than the rest of them.
And the rest of the examples would have gone away anyway because the science caught up to those and the truth about their health damage potential because known.
Kind of like when Henry Ford was asked about customer input in the development of the Ford Model T said, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”
VP still sells leaded gasoline.
You don’t have to wear a seat belt.
There are better products than asbestos and lead paint available now.
Your point is disjointed because at this time BEVs aren’t safer, less impactful to the environment, or a superior replacement to ICE.
PHEVs, that’s a better argument.
In rural areas charger placement, availability, and of course the energy density of batteries isn’t there. This MAY change in the future, but until then this is a wrong-headed knee jerk reaction to questionable climate data with arguably little impact.
It’s against the law in my state to not be buckled up. Just saying.
Note I am not anti EV and not trying to get political but this has been a very one sided deal and the activist have been put into placed of government where it is making it hard to get much compromise or change.
Just look at the RPM act and how it is trying to prevent the Appointed EPA people from making changes to how the laws that have been passed are interpreted.
There is a lot of people making money of the new Green agenda and much at the expense of our economy. Some may ponder how many have taken payments from agents representing Chines reps.
If you wanted to disrupt our country you would do it from inside.
I often wonder if the UAW leader is getting paid off. If he wins they will lose jobs. Then who benefits?
Follow the money not the rhetoric.
I believe there are dirty hands in both parties.
I go to Canada from the mid-south, it now takes me and my co-driver 2 days to travel the 1300 miles. That is four (4) days driving for 4 days of vacation. How long would it take us to get to Canada and back in an electric vehicle? As soon as we got there, we would have to turn around a return! NO THANKS!! I will drive my ICE cars until I can’t buy gas, maybe I should put in my own gas tank in my back yard.
I have over 30 ICE vehicles. Motorcycles, autos, snowmobiles, etc. I also have a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt. The Bolt is faster than my Porsche and beats my motorcycles for fuel cost. Home charging costs me $1.33 per 30 miles. Maintenance costs are still $0 after 30,000 miles and it leaves no fluid stains on my garage floor like my British vehicles. With my savings I’m saving for an electric Porsche. Neck snapping acceleration with fine handling. ICE legislation might make us gear heads feel better, but it is unlikely to slow the transition to electric.
But it would be really nice if we, as free adult citizens of the United States, got to make our own choices as to what we want powering our modes of transportation. If you want a Tesla or a Porsche Taycan, great, get one. If I want a Hellcat Charger or a truck that will actually tow things a long way, I should get to make that choice too.
If enough people freely choose to switch to EVs over time, and the market shrivels for ICE on its own accord, then the market has spoken. But blanket government mandates to switch to a nascent technology that we may or may not have the money or infrastructure for is ridiculous and anti-freedom.
its good to see politicians actually doing something good for the country
thanks for helping stop the stupidity,i was poor growing up and these ignorant policies hurt poor people and us people that like ice,was dumb enough to buy an electric car,not a good experience.
If it gets past the senate, without a veto-proof majority it will die in Biden’s hands /handlers.
Everybody misses the point. Even if we perfect an EV, we cannot support all electric. Our grid cannot support it and we cannot produce enough electricity with wind and solar. We still need to burn fossil fuels to produce the electricity needed plain and simple. EV’s have their place, but it’s not everywhere unless you listen to the crooked politicians profiting from this. If you want an EV then buy one, but we should still have a choice to buy an ICE, especially with the new emissions controls on them. People need to wake up and get back to the real world.
It’s like the old adage “there’s never enough time to do it right the first time, but always enough time to do it over…”
I too am very fond of my ICE cars but it’s real easy to view the handwriting on the wall. As for electric, I’d much rather see greater effort into getting hydrogen to become more cost effective than taxing an overwhelmed and antiquated electrical grid system. For better or worse electric is a foregone conclusion and change is inevitable despite our misgivings.
As for cost, I no longer see the argument that electric are that much more expensive especially today. If you look at the current landscape there’s fewer and fewer gas stations than even 10 years ago. As more people adopt electric, and it’s growing, and they’ll be fewer stations selling fuel in the future. That’s business,
supply & demand.
As for ICE affordability, have you looked at new or used car prices recently!? Average transaction prices easily exceeding $48k, average! Add skyrocketing insurance, service, parts and fuel, there nothing affordable now about owning any car, ICE included! True, owners of collectibles may rejoice, but on the flip side any car you buy after you sell yours has increased by as much too.
And now that OPEC and Russia are successfully colluding to restrict the world’s oil supply, gas prices have only way to go and it isn’t down. Better get used to $7.00/gal and I won’t be surprised if by this time next year we’re knocking on $10/gal in a number of states. Sorry, there’s very little too feel good about when it comes to owning any new or old car these days…
I agree the world has become too chaotic, dysfunctional, authoritarian and generous to powerful people and companies. And if you look at social media’s role, they haven’t done society any favors either.
But I digress. In the end I’m not sure electric is the right direction but the die has been cast and as I see it, we can either be part of the past and lament it’s passing or look to the future. When or if the laws change I know this. If the choice is converting some of my collection to electric and continue driving them or donating them to a museum I choose to drive.
BTW even Robert Downey Jr recognizes this as a transformational time is transforming some very expensive custom vehicles to electric. Can’t say I fully agree with his choices in vehicles but at least he’s open minded.
OPEC and Russia wouldn’t be able to collude to control world oil prices if we were still energy independent and the worlds largest producer like a few years ago.