East Idaho Times

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. Representative John James are leading a bicameral effort to push back against the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light duty trucks. In a letter signed by 89 other members of Congress, they are calling on Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to use the power of the purse to defund the unrealistic NHTSA CAFE standards proposal.

The proposed comply-or-die electric vehicle (EV) mandate is facing criticism for its potential negative impact on consumers and automakers. According to the letter, this mandate will increase the average cost of a car by $932 and add $58.6 billion in new costs to automakers. Senator Crapo, the lead signer in the U.S. Senate, expressed his concerns about the mandate, stating, "This de facto mandate through the federal rulemaking process hurts consumer choice and the affordability of vehicles available to Americans."

Representative James, who is leading the letter in the U.S. House of Representatives, also voiced opposition to the mandate, emphasizing the potential damage it could cause to the economy and Americans' freedom of choice. He said, "The Biden Administration’s forced transition to electric vehicles—the 'comply or die' mandate being pushed down from the federal government to everyone... will absolutely crater the economy, not to mention trample Americans’ choice in the car they drive."

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) joined the voices opposing the mandate, with NADA President and CEO Mike Stanton stating, "The proposed CAFE standards are essentially an EV mandate which will make vehicles less affordable and significantly reduce consumer choice for working families." Stanton pointed out that while there have been significant investments in electric vehicles, the lack of charging infrastructure and higher prices have dampened consumer demand for EVs.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) also criticized the proposed CAFE standards, seeing them as an attempt by the Biden administration to limit consumers' access to affordable and reliable vehicle options. Amanda Eversole, Executive Vice President & Chief Advocacy Officer for API, commended the efforts of Representative James and Senator Crapo in protecting Americans from what she called "deeply misguided and intrusive government mandates."

This bipartisan effort to push back against the NHTSA's proposed EV mandate highlights concerns about the impact it could have on consumers, automakers, and the economy. As the debate continues, the letter signed by members of Congress serves as a call to action to protect consumer choice and affordability in the automotive industry.