Vermont in the US Suspends EV Sales Requirements

According to foreign media reports, on May 13, Vermont Governor Phil Scott announced a suspension of the state's EV sales requirements for passenger cars and medium- and heavy-duty trucks. This decision reflects widespread concerns among US states about California's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) regulations, with increasing doubts about their feasibility.

Previously, Vermont, along with 10 other states including New York, Maryland, and Massachusetts, had adopted California's ZEV regulations. These regulations require automakers to completely ban the sale of pure internal combustion engine (ICE) car models by 2035 and stipulate that ZEVs must account for 35% of 2026 model year light-duty vehicles.

Citing warnings from automakers, Scott stated that due to the restrictions imposed by the state's EV regulations, producers might reduce the supply of ICE vehicles to local dealers. Scott said, "It is clear that our existing charging infrastructure falls far short of the mark, and the development of heavy-duty vehicle technology is insufficient to meet the current goals."

Maryland Governor Wes Moore also announced last month the postponement of the implementation of these regulations, delaying their effective date to 2028, citing concerns about tariff policies and funding problems for charging infrastructure.

The US House of Representatives voted in May this year to pass a resolution aimed at simultaneously repealing two of California's landmark environmental protection policies: the 2035 full electrification plan and the plan to gradually increase the sales share of ZEV heavy-duty trucks. The resolution proposes to revoke the legislative authority granted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to these regulations during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.

California, on the other hand, insists that under the fast-track approval process, Congress has no authority to overturn decisions made during the Biden administration. It remains unclear when the Senate will consider these bills.

Several major automakers have stated that California's new regulations, which require EVs to account for at least 80% and plug-in hybrid models no more than 20% of sales by 2035, are unrealistic and have launched lobbying efforts against them. The California government, however, emphasizes that these regulations are crucial for reducing pollution and alleges that the congressional voting process may be illegal.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major automakers such as General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, has warned that automakers might be forced to significantly reduce their total sales to increase the sales share of EVs.