Joe Biden has finalised a major crackdown on petrol cars in the most aggressive attack on internal combustion of any country in the world.
The EPA announcement also mentioned that the rule is separate from, but aligned with, the Biden administration’s stated 2021 goal of having 50 per cent of all new US vehicles sold in 2030 be zero-emission. The current emissions standards in Australia, lingering since 2009, fail to meet those adopted in Europe a decade ago and Australia’s petrol quality stands as one of the dirtiest among developed nations.
“Our final rule delivers the same, if not more, pollution reduction than we set out in our proposal,’’ EPA Administrator Michael Regan told reporters, adding the rules would prevent more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions over the next three decades and provide nearly $100 billion in benefits including lower health care costs, and more than $60 billion in reduced annual costs for fuel, maintenance and repairs.
“Today, we’re setting new pollution standards for cars and trucks,” Biden said in a statement. “And you have my word: US workers will lead the world in making autos, each stamped ‘Made in America’.”