The End of the EV Mandate is at Hand

As Barack Obama famously observed: Elections have consequences. A consequence of Donald Trump's election is his selection of former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the next Director of the EPA. There can be little doubt that the EV mandate will be among the many policies and regulations that Zeldin will throw over the side.

Trump taps Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental ...

NBC News
https://www.nbcnews.com › politics › donald-trump › t...

16 hours ago — President-elect Donald Trump on Monday selected former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency in his ...

President-elect Donald Trump selected former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York on Monday to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency in his administration.

In a statement announcing the appointment, Trump described Zeldin, a former four-term Republican from Long Island, as "a true fighter for America First policies."

"He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet," Trump said. "He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way."
Zeldin said it was "an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator."

"We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water," he said on X.

The post requires Senate confirmation. Republicans will have a majority in the chamber when the new Congress is sworn in during January.

The EPA’s 2024 fiscal year budget is $9.1 billion. The agency has 15,130 employees.

After Trump's announcement, Zeldin said in a Fox News interview that he would prioritize efforts to "roll back regulations" that he said caused American businesses to struggle.

"There are regulations that the left wing of this country have been advocating through regulatory power that ends up causing businesses to go in the wrong direction,” he said.

The New York Post first reported Zeldin's appointment — Trump's second Cabinet pick for his second term in office.

 

The good news is spreading.
Former New York GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin Tapped To Lead Environmental Protection Agency
Adam Pack
“It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin wrote on X announcing his appointment. “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back…

 

The EV mandate is likely dead. It's not to say that if folks want EVs, they should be able to buy them. But government shouldn't be in the business of mandating that you have to use them. IT's high time this BS ended. And good riddance. Now, let manufacturers develop and sell quality EVs that can compete, not be forced.

 

One.
Just one.

 

There is no EV mandate. There are new CAFE standards in 2026. Automakers can easily meet these standards, and they are all prepared to do so.

 

Unless it's a Tesla?

 

Are you asking some kind of meaningful question?

 

Why yes, we've seen the auto makers meeting those "standards".
The car lots are full of them meeting the "standards".

The car makers will just about give you one if you ask.

 

That’s all going away.

 

A bit of disagreement with your version of reality.

https://www.api.org/news-policy-and...fe-standards-and-driving-americans-toward-evs

And $14 BILLION IN FINES?
Don't think the auto industry agrees with with your optimism.

https://jalopnik.com/failing-to-meet-cafe-standards-could-cost-automakers-ov-1850894492

 

Automakers have already stated they are releasing PHEV models to meet CAFE standards. EVs are doing just fine for Tesla. The other US Mfrs have mismanaged the effort.

 

The rules will change.

 

So your claim that "Automakers can easily meet these standards, and they are all prepared to do so."

Is incorrect.

 

Here's GM's statement. Similar statements are available from all the Big3.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a46818216/gm-plug-in-hybrid-chevrolet-equinox/

GM Bringing Back Plug-In Hybrids, Chevy Equinox Could Be the First

• General Motors plans to once again sell plug-in hybrids in North America, and we think the redesigned Chevy Equinox will be the first.
• GM CEO Mary Barra recently confirmed that PHEVs will return, also saying, "... the technology is already in production in other markets."

 

Wow! One model from one manufacturer.

That'll do it!

 

There are many, many (see below for another). PHEVs don’t have the political hurdles that are prevalent with EVs. EVs threaten to end the need for middleman dealerships. Maintenance costs are so low that dealership warranties and service are unneeded. PHEVs still have the gas engine along with a lot of the other ICE complexities which require regular checkups and maintenance. Eventually consumers will realize this, and EVs will be KING, but for now PHEVs represent a slower weaning of the ICE foolishness and inefficiency.

https://www.ford.com/suvs-crossovers/escape/models/escape-plug-in-hybrid/

2025 Escape®Plug-in Hybrid

 

OK, I've been following this for a while (it's a bit of a personal vendetta) but, not being a lawyer myself, I'd like to invite @Turtledude into this conversation.

I'm wondering how Zeldin might approach overturning the EV mandate.

Since it's all built on Massachusetts v. EPA, I suppose a direct challenge from the private sector, ala Loper Bright Enterpises v. Raimondo, could do it. But that wouldn't directly involve the Trump administration. And it might have the effect of gutting the Clean Air Act entirely which might not be politically prudent.

The other way I see it possibly happening is if Zeldin's EPA appeals (if that's possible) the original decision back to the Supreme Court. Massachusetts was an extremely odd decision in that it didn't direct Bush's EPA to immediately start regulating CO2. Rather, it directed EPA to either start regulating or tell the Court why it was impossible to do (obviously since they're doing it, it's not impossible).

EPAs original defense argument was that the CAA never authorized regulating a non-pollutant.

Might Trump's EPA be able to go back and reargue that, while not impossible, it's un-American and logically absurd?

I'd personally appreciate any serious answers for or against.

Thanks in advance.

 

Feel free to try again if you ever figure out what you're talking about.

Until then, this nonsense is no longer worth my time.

 

Trump cares about one thing - Trump. He owes Elon Musk the world. Elon will dictate ALL course of action regarding emissions, EVs, UAW, and renewables. Trump will not care, because the actions will benefit ——Trump.

 

Well, you're just confusing everyone now.
First you said manufacturer's were ready and able to meet Brandon's demands, then you said American manufacturers had mismanaged the process, implying they wouldn't meet Brandon's demands, and now you're telling us at least on American company will (using foreign technology and systems).

What's next, trump told them not to, but they could If he'd let them?

 

Tesla is an EV.

If the mandate to end EV, how does that affect tesla?

Since the founder of the company is going to be on the next presidential staff.

 

There will be no mandate to end EV’s.

 

Elon Musk will be given preferential treatment like all the billionaires that supported the Trump campaign. Most have already recovered their donation investments, with the recent incredibly fast run-up of Tesla stock.

 

You say that like it's a bad thing..............

 

I made a lot of money. And hopefully you did too. Billionaires with an inside track made that much more. Is that a bad thing? I think the last thing this country needs is more income disparity between the rich and the poor/middle class.