A coalition of 25 state attorneys general has taken legal action against the Biden administration over recent environmental regulations aimed at gas-powered car emissions and the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs). Led by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the coalition filed a challenge against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, questioning the legality of the new rules.

The attorneys general argue that the EPA's regulations impose "unworkable emissions standards" on passenger cars and medium-duty vehicles and are part of President Biden's "radical green agenda" to push expensive EVs on families, workers, and farmers. Highlighting concerns about historic inflation, they aim to protect the free market and block what they perceive as a government mandate.

Last month, the EPA, in conjunction with the White House, announced the regulations, which are the most stringent multipollutant emission standards ever finalized. Published on Thursday, these standards have now opened the door for legal challenges and potential congressional resolutions. Although the regulations specifically target gas-powered vehicles, they are designed to encourage the widespread adoption of EVs and, to a lesser extent, hybrid cars.

President Biden aims to achieve EVs accounting for 50% of all new car sales in 2030. The regulations require automakers to significantly reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter from new passenger cars, light trucks, larger pickups, and vans starting in two years with model year 2027 vehicles. The EPA asserts that these rules will aid in addressing the climate crisis by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector.

Critics of the regulations include not only state officials but also lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as various industry groups such as agricultural associations and energy organizations. Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell expressed concerns about the suitability of EVs for rural environments, citing the inability to rely on charging infrastructure during trips to serve rural communities.

The legal challenge against the EPA was undertaken by a diverse group of states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming, and the two lead states, Kentucky and West Virginia.

According to data from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, EVs accounted for 9.5% of new light-duty vehicle sales in 2023, up from 7% in 2022 and 4.3% in 2021. However, EVs still remain more expensive than traditional gas-powered cars. A Gallup poll conducted in March showed a decline in the percentage of Americans considering an EV purchase, from 55% to 44% year-over-year.

The EPA has yet to respond to requests for comment on the legal challenge filed by the state attorneys general. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will judge the legality of the regulations and what implications the outcome may have for the future of EV adoption in the United States.