11.06.2025 21:10

President Donald Trump is poised to dismantle California's ambitious electric vehicle (EV) mandate, a move that could significantly impact the nation's transition to cleaner transportation. On Thursday, he is expected to sign three resolutions passed under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), effectively revoking California's Clean Air Act waiver. This action eliminates the state's authority to enforce its stringent EV targets for both passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks.

These resolutions specifically target the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) key programs: Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and heavy-duty diesel engine standards. These initiatives utilize a combination of financial incentives and increasingly strict penalties to drive the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), phasing out traditional gasoline-powered cars. California's aggressive plan aims for a 35% ZEV adoption rate by 2026, rising to 68% by 2030, and ultimately reaching 100% by 2035. However, current adoption rates fall far short of these ambitious goals, with only 6% of light-duty vehicles meeting the mandate's requirements as of late 2024, according to the state's own figures.

Supporters of the CRA resolutions, including President Trump and fellow Republicans, argue that California's program effectively sets a national standard due to the "follow-the-leader" provisions in a dozen other states' laws mirroring California's Clean Air Act regulations. This perspective frames the California mandate as a matter of national, not just state, concern. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a key architect of one of the resolutions, has been vocal in her opposition to California's EV mandate, citing concerns about its impact on the national automotive industry and consumers. The President’s decision is likely to spark further debate about federal versus state authority in environmental regulations and the future of the American automotive landscape.