EXCLUSIVE: In a strike against the latest EPA regulations, a unified front of three powerful coalitions is set to launch a legal juggernaut, representing 30 petitioners, on Thursday. The legal challenge seeks to overturn the EPA's controversial and stringent new vehicle emissions standards that have sparked widespread debate across the country.
An attorney for some of the petitioners, Michael Buschbacher of the Boyden Gray law firm, told Fox News Digital that Congress never authorized the EPA to 'reverse-engineer an electric vehicle mandate.' 'Forced electrification of the vehicle fleet is one of the least cost-effective decarbonization strategies out there. By contrast, renewable fuels are a feasible and affordable means of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and improving vehicle efficiency,' he said.
If the same model of pickup truck would be improved to emit 360 grams per mile by 2032, under the new EPA rule, auto dealers would have to sell at least three electric vehicles at the same time to meet the required 85 grams per mile fleetwide average. Therefore, the organization argued, sales of standard pickup trucks would be 'artificially capped' and lead to a spike in MSRP.
Chet Thompson, president of AFPM, told Fox News Digital the EPA 'overstepped' in formulating fleetwide average standards instead of concrete standards cars and trucks must meet. 'Since no gas, diesel or traditional hybrid today can meet 85 grams/mile, EPA’s averaging scheme – which is already being contested for the 2023-2026 standards – is clearly meant to force EV adoption,' he said.