Joe Biden poised to dump tough EV mandates amid sagging demand, rising costs

US President Joe Biden speaks at the United Auto Workers (UAW) union conference in Washington, DC last month. His administration is poised to dump controversial rule that would require Americans to buy more electric cars sooner.

• By ADAM CREIGHTON

  WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
• UPDATED 11:40AM FEBRUARY 20, 2024, FIRST PUBLISHED AT 10:03AM FEBRUARY 20, 2024
• 232 COMMENTS

The Biden administration is poised to dump controversial rule that would require Americans to buy more electric cars sooner, in a nod to their declining popularity and increasing cost that will embarrass the Albanese government, which has sought to copy the US approach.

In a move that will infuriate environmentalists the US Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly going to dump proposed rules would have ensured around two thirds of sales of new cars and light trucks in the US were fully electric by 2032, up from almost 8 per cent last year.

“Instead of essentially requiring automakers to rapidly ramp up sales of electric vehicles over the next few years, the administration would give car manufacturers more time, with a sharp increase in sales not required until after 2030,” the New York Times said based on two anonymous administration sources, on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).