Biden administration issues rule likely to push US heavy-duty truck fleet toward EVs

The Biden administration finalized a rule Friday that’s expected to make a greater share of the U.S. truck fleet electric.

It’s difficult to say exactly what percentage of new heavy-duty truck sales could be expected to be electric under the rule, administration officials told reporters, noting that the rule deals with eight different classes of trucks.

However, the share of the heaviest trucks’ sales that are electric would be expected to exceed 20 percent around 2040, officials said.

One possible scenario outlined in the rule shows that sales of lighter heavy-duty trucks could be 60 percent electric in 2032, sales of medium heavy-duty trucks could be 40 percent electric in 2032 and sales of heavy heavy-duty trucks could be 30 percent electric in 2032.

The truck rules do not explicitly mandate a shift toward electric vehicles (EVs). Instead, they set average pollution limits for truckmakers’ fleets that are expected to push them in the direction of electric and other lower-emitting technologies like hybrids.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rule also presents another scenario without electric trucks, relying on hybrids and trucks powered by natural gas and hydrogen to meet the standards instead.

Like recently issued rules for passenger vehicles, the finalized truck rule’s requirements were loosened for the earlier years of the program when compared to what would have been required under the proposed rule. This was done to allow for the development of new technology and allow for more charging infrastructure to be deployed.

However, an EPA spokesperson said the new rule is actually expected to deliver a slightly greater emissions cut than the proposed rule would have.

It is expected to prevent a billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2055 — about equivalent of one year’s worth of emissions from 263 coal plants.

Transportation makes up around 27 percent of the U.S.’s planet-warming emissions, a quarter of which come from heavy-duty trucks, the proposed version of the rule states — meaning heavy trucks make up around 7 percent of the nation’s emissions overall.

In addition, the rule is expected to reduce releases of other types of pollution, which officials said would benefit public health.

“An estimated 72 million Americans, often people of color or people with lower incomes, live near freight truck routes,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. 

“These communities are disproportionately exposed to the pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, resulting in higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and even premature death,” he added. “Reducing emissions from our heavy-duty vehicles means cleaner air and less pollution.”

A trade group representing truck manufacturers expressed concerns about the rule.

“We are concerned that the final rule will end up being the most challenging, costly and potentially disruptive heavy-duty emissions rule in history,” Jed Mandel, president of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, said in a written statement. 

His group particularly raised concerns about the availability of charging infrastructure and also questioned whether customers would buy enough electric trucks to keep manufacturers in compliance.

Other pushback has been more concrete, with Republicans saying they would introduce a resolution to overturn the rule.

Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), alongside Reps. John James (R-Mich.) and Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), said in a joint statement that Biden’s “EV mandate for heavy trucks will make everything more expensive as it wreaks havoc on our nation’s supply chain and makes us more reliant on China.”

“We will be introducing Congressional Review Act legislation in both the House and Senate to make sure Biden’s EV mandates never become reality,” they added. 

The effort has little chance of succeeding, however, as it needs the president’s approval or significant majorities to override a presidential veto.

Meanwhile, a pair of oil industry groups threatened a lawsuit.

“This misguided rule should be overturned by Congress, but short of that, our organizations are prepared to explore challenges in court,” said a joint statement from Chet Thompson and Mike Sommers, leaders of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and American Petroleum Institute lobby groups.

And while environmental groups generally praised the updated standards, some also said they should have gone even further to reduce truck emissions. 

“These EPA standards will help protect our families from dangerous pollution while steering us toward a safer climate,” Guillermo Ortiz, clean vehicles advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a written statement. 

But, he said, “this rule could have done more.”

“Every wheeze, every gasp for breath in communities impacted by the movement of freight serves as a reminder of the urgency to act. The federal government needs to fully address this scourge on our families.”

Updated at 9:58 a.m. ET