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Leading businesses send President Biden letter to support robust vehicle standards

22 June 2021, 8:00 UTC 5 min read

Ambitious US businesses announce support for robust vehicle standards to achieve 100% sales of new light-duty vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions ideally by 2030.

Key businesses from the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative in partnership with Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) members delivered a letter on Tuesday, June 22 to the Biden administration demonstrating widespread support for robust vehicle standards. The clean vehicles industry is critical to reducing emissions, creating American jobs, and improving public health. 

The letter, organized by the Climate Group and ZETA, showcases US businesses strong support for a clean vehicle target that helps the country achieve net-zero by 2050. The supporting EV manufacturers, fleet operators, utilities and transportation network companies understand the need to urgently move towards a clean vehicle future. The Biden administration is expected to release new vehicle standards in the upcoming few weeks prior to COP26. 

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EV100-ZETA Member Letter to Biden Administration.pdf

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Date added: 21/06/21

Dear President Biden, Administrator Regan, Secretary Buttigieg, and Acting Administrator Cliff

We write to you today as a collection of leading groups and businesses focused on accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the United States (US). We applaud your Administration’s leadership in prioritizing renewable energy development and transportation electrification through actions such as the American Jobs Plan and the proposal to restore California’s vehicle emissions waiver.

We strongly support the establishment of robust vehicle standards to achieve 100% sales of new light-duty vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions ideally by 2030. Strong emission standards will help drive the burgeoning US industry to make EV’s the new normal by 2030.

The climate crisis is accelerating at an alarming pace, and millions of people are already suffering from its impact. Since the transportation sector is the largest source of emissions in the US[1] it also stands as the largest opportunity to reduce our country’s overall emissions. Transportation electrification can revitalize the economy, create millions of jobs, and improve public health for communities across the nation.

More than 40% of Americans — over 135 million people — live in communities with unhealthy ozone or pollution levels[2] that often lead to premature deaths and health conditions like asthma. This burden is disproportionately borne by disadvantaged communities. Fossil-fuel powered vehicles, especially diesel, emit pollutants like particulate matter and NOx, which have been attributed as the leading cause for premature deaths in the US. And while EVs have zero tailpipe emissions that will help reduce public health impacts, they are also 67% less carbon intensive over their lifetime compared to gas-powered vehicles, creating substantial climate benefits.[3] The cost savings from improved public health and environment amount to $1.3 trillion through 2050.[4]

Strong vehicle standards will also send a strong market signal that the US is committed to emissions reduction and is intent on restoring global automotive leadership. These standards, when paired with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), will create hundreds of thousands of American jobs. In 2020 alone, the clean vehicles industry in the US created more than 270,000 jobs,[5] and, as projections indicate, the US can create 2 million jobs by 2035 with the right regulatory support from our nation’s leaders.[6]

The evidence is clear. If the US makes EVs the number one choice for new light duty vehicles by 2030, our transportation sector emissions will be cut in half by 2050.[7] This can help prevent approximately 150,000 premature deaths and save nearly $1.3 trillion in health and environmental costs.[8]

As the country’s leading EV manufacturers, fleet operators, utilities and transportation network companies, we represent and understand the need to urgently move towards a clean vehicle future. By focusing on renewable and clean energy sources, these technological advancements will play an essential role in helping the US achieve its sustainable energy goals.

Thank you for your efforts and consideration on this critical issue. Strong vehicle standards that drive 100% sales of new light-duty vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions ideally by 2030 are key to achieving net-zero by 2050.[9] We look forward to continued ambitious actions.

Signatories

Signatory logos
Businesses include: Biogen, Danfoss, DHL, Enel X, Flo, Genentech, HP Inc., IKEA, Ioneer USA Corporation, Li-Cycle, Lime, Lordstown, Lyft, Momentum Dynamics, National Grid, Novonix, PG&E, Redwood Materials, Rivian, Siemens, VmWare and WAVE

“When we announced our 100% EVs by 2030 commitment, we said that meeting our goal will require the collective action of industry, government, and nonprofit organizations to overcome the barriers currently preventing wide-scale electrification, including vehicle availability and affordability. Federal vehicle standards will drive automotive industry innovation to solve both of those problems and in turn, help us encourage drivers on our platform to make the switch to EVs.”

- Paul Augustine, Senior Manager of Sustainability at Lyft

“As a signatory on this letter, FLO recognizes the moral imperative to combat climate change and uplift disadvantaged communities, historically overburdened by air pollution. Our success will depend on not just incentives, but also strong vehicle emission standards, which will give companies like ours the confidence that the U.S. government is committed to transportation electrification.”

- Louis Tremblay, President and CEO of FLO

“By strengthening vehicle standards with a focus on electrifying transportation, we can protect the planet and produce cleaner air while also creating jobs, fueling economic recovery and building a more resilient future. Further, by ensuring interoperability and open standards, we can make the EV infrastructure more accessible and equitable for all. Siemens stands ready to partner with the Biden Administration and the Climate Group in our collective journey to ensure U.S. competitiveness in the emerging global electrification market.”

- John DeBoer, Head of Siemens eMobility solutions and Future Grid Business in North America

About EV100

EV100 is a global initiative by the Climate Group bringing together forward-looking companies committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and making electric transport the new normal by 2030. 

EV100’s US position paper titled, Key Policies to Drive the Electric Vehicle Transition in the US provides a full overview of all the policies supported by EV100 members in the US and the EV100 Progress and Insights Report 2021 offers an overview of member progress.

About ZETA

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) is a public interest non-profit of 55 member companies advocating for 100% electric vehicle (EV) sales by 2030. Their membership spans the entire EV supply chain and includes critical materials, charging companies, utilities, vehicle manufacturers, and battery recyclers. ZETA is committed to enacting policies that drive EV adoption, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, secure American global EV manufacturing dominance, drastically improve public health, and significantly reduce carbon pollution.

ZETA’s policy platform titled, Roadmap to 2030 provides a full overview of all the policies supported by ZETA members in the United States.