In a significant blow to the White House's plans to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption and combat vehicle pollution, the US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would prevent the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing tougher new pollution standards. The bill, known as HR 4468 or the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act 2023, received 221 votes in favor and 197 against.

The passage of the bill comes in the wake of a letter-writing campaign by US auto dealers urging the White House to abandon its climate targets, citing difficulties in selling electric vehicles. The proposed regulations would have required automakers to sell a significantly higher number of EVs by 2032 to meet new fleet averages. Under the stricter rules, two-thirds of all new passenger cars and light trucks would need to be electric by 2032.

Opposition to the bill centered around the Republican Party's stance on reducing hydrocarbon emissions. During the previous administration, the focus was on undermining the EPA's authority to regulate tailpipe emissions and decrease gasoline dependence. With a slim majority in the House of Representatives, Republicans have continued their efforts in this direction.

The language of HR 4468 explicitly prohibits the EPA from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing new vehicle pollution regulations set to take effect in 2027. The bill also states that the EPA cannot mandate the use of specific technologies or limit the availability of new motor vehicles based on the type of engine they have.

The White House strongly objected to the legislation, emphasizing that it would severely hamper the EPA's ability to regulate vehicle pollution. President Joe Biden has threatened to veto the bill should it successfully pass the Senate and reach his desk.

While proponents of the bill argue that it would give consumers more choices in automobile retail sales, critics warn that it would undermine efforts to mitigate climate change and promote cleaner transportation. The bill now faces the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.

As the debate over emissions standards and the future of electric vehicles rages on, the outcome of this bill will have far-reaching implications for the US automotive industry and the nation's environmental commitments.