Republican bill would prevent ‘back-door mandate’ for EVs

By Manuel Quiñones | 06/12/2024 07:04 AM EDT

The legislation is part of the GOP’s opposition to measures that incentivize the production of electric vehicles.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).

Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member John Barraso (R-Wyo.) introduced a bill he says would prevent an electric vehicle mandate. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Top Senate Republicans introduced legislation Tuesday that would force the Department of Energy to use “more accurate criteria” when calculating the fuel economy of electric vehicles.

The bill — sponsored by Energy and Natural Resources ranking member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and others — questions DOE’s work for calculating the petroleum-equivalent average fuel economy of EVs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses the data to set corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards, the lawmakers noted in a release. Sponsors said they want to prevent a “back-door mandate” for producing EVs.

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“No administration should be able to rig efficiency calculations for electric cars. The REVEAL Act would prevent the Secretary of Energy from using these faulty calculations to prohibit the sale of gas or diesel powered cars or trucks,” Barrasso said.

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