Drivers to ditch electric vehicle mandate in key US state - ‘Completely absurd’

Governor Youngki announced the end of the California electric vehicle mandate in Virginia this week.

Governor and Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle confirmed that Virginia will no longer be required to comply with “expansive new mandates” set to take effect from 2025.

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Youngkin explained: “Once again, Virginia is declaring independence – this time from a misguided electric vehicle mandate imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth.

“The idea that government should tell people what kind of car they can or can’t purchase is fundamentally wrong. Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses.”

He said the law is clear, “Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy”.

The emissions target falls in line with the states plan to become net zero by 2035 with all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California aiming to be electric by then.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General Jason Miyares added that the EV mandates are“unworkable and out of touch with reality,”.

He expressed that California “does not control” which cars Virginians buy and any thoughts that automobile manufacturers should face millions of dollars in civil penalties “rather than allowing our citizens to choose their own vehicles is completely absurd”.

In 2021, Virginia passed legislation to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Cars I regulation.

Under the rules, by 2026, 35 per cent of the new cars sold would have been required to be electric vehicles, moving up to 100 per cent in 2035.

But if a car manufacturer fails to meet the regulation they could be fined upwards of $20,000 (£15,000) per vehicle sold.

Given that EVs only amounted to nine per cent of vehicles sold in Virginia in 2023, the state said it did not want to risk car makers facing hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties.

Miyares added: “Virginia auto consumers and dealers could be forced to bear these costs.

“Not only would this leave auto dealers with less money to pay staff, offer raises, and grow their businesses, it could force many small auto dealers to permanently close their doors.”

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As of June 2022, there were about 40,000 electric vehicles in Virginia, not enough to meet the 35 per cent mandate.