SHOPSMART AUTOS – CUSTOMER INFORMATION – JANUARY 24, 2021 -2
Biden administration promises an EV era, new world for the auto industry
An overhaul to emissions and fuel economy standards
The Trump administration finalized new federal emissions and fuel economy regulations in 2020, but the Biden administration will more than likely seek to beef them up once again. Automakers have already started calling on the new administration to use a voluntary California agreement as a framework for a national standard. The voluntary California agreement worked out to fuel efficiency increases of 3.7% each year starting in 2022 — lower than the Obama administration’s goal, but far more aggressive than the Trump administration’s. On his campaign website, Biden called for an overhaul to the Clean Air Act signed into law decades ago and even included mention of all vehicles sold in the US to feature some form of electrification. A reminder that “electrification” does not boil down to only battery-electric vehicles — instead, it includes everything from a mild-hybrid with a 48-volt motor-generator all the way to a full-blown EV. Each piece also intertwines the new administration’s goal to aggressively tackle the ongoing climate change crisis.
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Futuristic infrastructure and expanded transportation
In the here-and-now, President Biden aims to make major investments in the US infrastructure, which may amount to a proposed $2 trillion investment in his first term. Specifically, $50 billion will be earmarked in the Biden administration’s first year to directly support road and highway repairs in all 50 states. However, the president also said he will instruct the Department of Transportation and Department of Energy to work together to investigate and move forward the idea of “complete streets.” The campaign defined these streets as “designed to help drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and others safely share the road.” They may also prepare the US for the future of self-driving cars. In addition to “complete streets,” infrastructure investments may also move to include testing for new types of EV charging technologies, such as roads that charge EVs while they move. It’s a far-out technology, for sure, but expanded federal investment to spur innovation was a hallmark to Biden’s campaign. To further provide a boost to smart infrastructure and planning, Biden previously called for a $1 billion competitive grant program for the ongoing Smart Cities Challenge. Perhaps the largest takeaway from Biden’s words on transportation at-large is a push to finally provide high-speed rail to US citizens. The 46th president’s relationship with Amtrak is well known, after all. Outside of rail, there will be a general push for different modes of transportation as the administration realizes there are other more efficient ways for people to move within an area. One concrete goal calls for Americans in municipalities of more than 100,000 people to have access to “quality public transportation” by 2030. Make It A Champion Day!
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