WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) submitted comments in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to set multi-pollutant emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 and later. In its comments, ZETA expressed the EV industry’s support for EPA’s efforts and emphasized the need for the agency to finalize emissions standards that create good-paying American jobs, reduce consumer costs, improve public health, and reduce emissions. 

“We believe these standards are achievable and will ensure the supply chain has the regulatory certainty needed to protect the investments being made today that will put the sector on a path to a zero-emission future,” wrote Albert Gore, Executive Director of ZETA in the association’s comments. “The intent of these standards is to reduce vehicle tailpipe emissions. The automotive industry, and others that supply it, have chosen electrification as the most commercially viable pathway to achieving the emissions reductions necessary to protect public health, our climate, and the environment.”

ZETA’s comments provide a comprehensive overview of the EV supply chain and the significant public and private investments around the United States to meet growing consumer demand, from critical minerals development to vehicle production. The comments also include a review of the environmental, public health, and economic benefits of  a transition to zero-emission transportation. 

“Electrification will not only reduce emissions but will also promote American economic competitiveness, create good-paying jobs, and improve local health outcomes,” wrote Gore. “Private sector investments in the domestic EV supply chain total billions of dollars and support hundreds of thousands of American jobs. Moreover, research has indicated that without adequate regulation of vehicle emissions, U.S. communities would experience avoidable increases in mortality.”

The American EV supply chain has grown rapidly in recent years, creating more than 143,000 jobs between the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in November 2021 and March 2023. Meanwhile, consumer demand for EVs is surging—a recent Consumer Reports survey showed that demand for EVs increased by 350% between 2020 and 2022. This is largely due to the benefits of driving an EV, with the average driver able to save between $6,000 and $12,000 over the vehicle’s lifetime due to the associated lower maintenance and charging costs.

EPA’s proposed rules would set the strongest U.S. performance-based emission standards to date, aligning with the goals of the BIL and Inflation Reduction Act. ZETA has been actively involved in the emission standards conversation across all classes of vehicles and recently submitted comprehensive comments on EPA’s proposed heavy-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards on June 16, 2023.

‍About ZETA

‍The Zero Emission Transportation Association is a federal coalition focused on advocating for 100% EV sales. ZETA is committed to enacting policies that drive EV adoption, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, secure American global EV manufacturing leadership, drastically improve public health, and significantly reduce carbon pollution.