Contact: Noah Barnes, Electrification Coalition
(202) 461-2371, noah@electrification.org
WASHINGTON—Over eighty businesses recently sent a letter to the White House, urging President Biden to support the EPA’s strongest proposed greenhouse gas emissions standards for heavy-duty (HD) vehicles. The rule, when finalized, would accelerate the transition to HD electric vehicles (EVs). The EPA forecasts that the rule would lead to 25-50% of new sales of HD vehicles being electric in 2032, depending on the vehicle type.
The proposed rule would have significant benefits, including an estimated $12 billion by reducing the energy security risks caused by our transportation sector’s reliance upon oil, as well as providing significant reductions in diesel pollution for those living along transportation corridors, largely black, brown and disadvantaged communities.
The participating businesses represent a diverse range of industries, including transportation, logistics, charging infrastructure providers, as well as vehicle and charger manufacturing companies, including:
- ABB
- ADS-Tec
- Apple Green Electric
- Distributed Sun
- Einride
- Edison International
- Forum Mobility
- Highland Electric Transportation
- IKEA
- Ingeteam
- Lion Electric
- Nestle
- Nevova
- Nuvve
- Oatly North America
- Orange EV
- REE Automotive
- Revolv
- Rivian
- Siemens
- TerraWatt Infrastructure
- WattEV
- Zenobe
As stated in the letter, “The technology is here, and our infrastructure can and will be ready. Of the nearly 12 billion tons of freight moved across every highway and through communities across the country, more than 80% of those trips are less than 250 miles and more than 40% travel less than 100 miles.” These are trips well-suited to electrification with current technology.
“There is building demand for heavy-duty electric trucks. Companies are setting goals that can only be reached with digitization and electrification. A strong EPA rule will ensure availability of these vehicles across the country,” said letter signatory Michelle Avary, the Vice President of External Affairs North America for Einride, a shipping technology provider.
A strong rule will also support expanded manufacturing jobs across the country. According to an analysis released by SAFE, EV supply chain investment and regulatory changes such as the EPA’s HD rule, have the potential to create more than 500,000 American jobs. As an example, letter signatory Lion Electric is bringing 1,400 jobs to Joliet, Illinois, through the creation of its U.S.-based heavy-duty EV-only factory.
“We fully support the Environmental Protection Agency and the establishing of the Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Finalizing this rule will strengthen the nation’s economy, reduce pollution, encourage robust electrification adoption, and address environmental justice for disadvantaged communities,” said Lion Electric Senior Vice President of Commercial Development, Nate A. Baguio.
The Electrification Coalition convened the business leaders to join the letter due to the critical opportunity the proposed EPA rule represents.
“While certain states are doing even more to deploy heavy-duty electric vehicles, the EPA rule represents a federal floor that will ensure heavy-duty electric vehicles are deployed across the country. When combined with the generational EV investments available through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the federal policy landscape will ensure the future of freight is electric,” said Electrification Coalition Executive Director Ben Prochazka.
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About the Electrification Coalition: The Electrification Coalition is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes policies and actions to facilitate the widespread adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) on a mass scale to overcome the economic, public health and national security challenges that stem from America’s dependence on oil. electrificationcoalition.org