<![CDATA[California Energy Journal: EVs]]>

<![CDATA[California Energy Journal: EVs]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/s/transportationhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9Kac!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5320955a-6683-4988-ace6-49352322dc6e_96x96.pngCalifornia Energy Journal: EVshttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/s/transportationSubstackThu, 09 Apr 2026 08:51:23 GMT<![CDATA[Trump Administration Sues California over Electric Vehicle Mandate]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/trump-administration-sues-californiahttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/trump-administration-sues-californiaFri, 13 Mar 2026 21:04:00 GMTThe Trump administration is suing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to block enforcement of the state’s vehicle emissions rules. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) argues that the state’s fleetwide CO2 emissions regulation and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales mandate conflict with federal law governing fuel economy standards.

The complaint, filed on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), argues that California’s CO2 and ZEV rules function as de facto fuel-economy standards for automakers. Under the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), which authorizes nationwide Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, only the federal government can regulate vehicle fuel economy.

In June 2025, Congress revoked California’s vehicle emissions waiver that previously allowed the state to enforce its ZEV mandate. In response, CARB issued emergency regulations in October 2025 to continue enforcing the Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which requires the phase-out of the sale of new gasoline-fueled or diesel-fueled passenger cars and trucks by 2035, and the Heavy-Duty Omnibus rule regulating heavy-duty engines.

The federal government argues that California’s regulations are preempted by EPCA because they are directly related to fuel economy. According to the complaint, “reducing or eliminating tailpipe CO2 emissions from internal combustion automobiles effectively increases fuel economy.”

The complaint states that CARB’s CO2 standards and ZEV mandates “undermine and conflict with NHTSA’s congressionally assigned role in establishing nationwide, uniform vehicle fuel economy standards.” The regulations also “create a patchwork of inconsistent regulation for vehicle and engine manufacturers in an area where Congress imposed a uniform, national approach.”

According to the filing, the regulations “harm the interests of the United States in ensuring American consumers’ access to and choice of reliable, affordable motor vehicle.”

The government also argues that California’s waivers under the Clean Air Act exempt the state from only the Clean Air Act‘s preemption provisions. “Such a waiver has no effect on EPCA,” the complaint states.

CARB has long maintained that its vehicle rules fall within the state’s authority to regulate emissions in order to address air pollution and climate change. State officials have historically argued that the regulations establish emissions standards, not fuel-economy requirements. (For more on California’s auto emissions waiver, see California’s Energy Transition: Part Four—Auto Emissions.)

CARB is currently developing new regulatory proposals in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-27-25, issued after Congress revoked California’s emissions waiver. The complaint criticizes those efforts and states that CARB “will continue these unlawful actions unless the Court intervenes.”

]]><![CDATA[EPA Blocks California’s Out-of-State Truck Inspection Rule]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/epa-blocks-californias-out-of-statehttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/epa-blocks-californias-out-of-stateMon, 02 Feb 2026 15:51:04 GMTThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule January 27, 2026 disapproving of California’s inspection and maintenance requirements on out-of-state trucks passing through the state. The EPA approved California’s Heavy-Duty (HD) Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Regulation only as it applies to in-state registered vehicles. The EPA pr…

]]><![CDATA[California Sets Standards for EV Charger Reliability]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/california-sets-standards-for-evhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/california-sets-standards-for-evFri, 10 Oct 2025 21:04:29 GMTThe California Energy Commission (CEC) voted unanimously to require publicly funded fast chargers for electric vehicles (EV) to be functional 97% of the time. This applies to chargers built in 2024 or later.

AB 2061, passed in 2022, requires the CEC to develop uptime recordkeeping and reporting standards for publicly or ratepayer funded EV chargers and c…

]]><![CDATA[CARB Moves to Reinstate Vehicle Emissions Standards through Emergency Rule]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/carb-moves-to-reinstate-vehicle-emissionshttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/carb-moves-to-reinstate-vehicle-emissionsMon, 06 Oct 2025 13:59:00 GMTThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted emergency regulations aimed at restoring the state’s vehicle emissions standards following federal actions earlier this year that sought to block key elements of California’s clean vehicle program.

The emergency rule, approved and filed with the Secretary of State on October 2, 2025, is intended to preser…

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]]><![CDATA[EPA Proposes to Prevent California from Applying Smog Regulations to Out-of-State Trucks]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/epa-proposes-to-prevent-californiahttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/epa-proposes-to-prevent-californiaThu, 28 Aug 2025 16:41:31 GMTThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to disapprove of California’s Heavy-Duty (HD) Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Requirements as it applies to out-of-state and out-of-country vehicles.

The rule, which was implemented in 2023 intended to reduce emissions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen, mandates roadside emissions screen…

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]]><![CDATA[California Regulators Plan to Increase EV Incentives as Feds Withdraw Support]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/california-regulators-plan-to-increasehttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/california-regulators-plan-to-increaseFri, 22 Aug 2025 19:37:00 GMTCalifornia regulators said they will strengthen efforts to reduce vehicle emissions as the Trump administration reduces support for electric vehicles (EVs) and ends California’s emissions waivers. In a new report released August 19, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and other agencies outlined ways California could respond to federal actio…

]]><![CDATA[California’s Clean Truck Partnership Faces Legal Challenges and FTC Invalidation]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/californias-clean-truck-partnershiphttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/californias-clean-truck-partnershipFri, 15 Aug 2025 19:06:21 GMTCalifornia’s Clean Truck Partnership to advance zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for the commercial trucking industry fell under legal attack by both truck manufacturers and the federal government. The challenges to 2023 agreement, under which truck manufacturers committed to 100% zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) in exchange for flexibility in meeting emissi…

]]><![CDATA[U.S. Supreme Court Allows Fuel Producers to Challenge EPA Waiver]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/us-supreme-court-allows-fuel-producershttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/us-supreme-court-allows-fuel-producersThu, 26 Jun 2025 15:11:08 GMTThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled that oil and ethanol producers had standing to challenge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of California’s vehicle emissions waivers that allow the state to set emissions standards that were stricter than the federal standards.

In a 7-2 decision, the Court ruled on June 20, 2025 that the fuel producers…

]]><![CDATA[Newsom Issues Executive Order on Emissions after Congress Revokes Waiver]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/newsom-issues-executive-order-onhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/newsom-issues-executive-order-onMon, 16 Jun 2025 14:27:00 GMTGovernor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop new vehicle emissions regulations after Congress revoked California’s vehicle emissions waiver.

Executive Order N-27-25 directs CARB to “develop and propose an Advanced Clean Cars III regulation consistent with State and federal law that reduces…

]]><![CDATA[Trump Signs Resolutions that Repeal California Emissions Waivers]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/trump-signs-resolutions-that-repealhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/trump-signs-resolutions-that-repealFri, 13 Jun 2025 17:45:06 GMTPresident Donald Trump signed into law three resolutions that revoke California’s vehicle emissions waiver, including the waiver that allows the state to end the sale of new gasoline-fueled or diesel-fueled passenger cars and trucks by 2035.

Trump’s approval of the bills on June 12, 2025 delivers on an executive order, issued on his first day in office, …

]]><![CDATA[Senate Votes to Repeal California Emissions Waivers]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/senate-votes-to-repeal-californiahttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/senate-votes-to-repeal-californiaWed, 28 May 2025 01:18:49 GMTThe U.S. Senate voted May 22, 2025 to repeal three California waivers to the Clean Air Act, including the waiver that allows the state to end the sale of new gasoline-fueled or diesel-fueled passenger cars and trucks by 2035. The Senate voted 51-44 with only one Democrat joining to repeal the waivers and four senators not voting. The U.S. House of Repre…

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]]><![CDATA[California Joins Other States in Lawsuit over EV Funds]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/california-joins-other-states-inhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/california-joins-other-states-inWed, 14 May 2025 15:12:21 GMTOn May 7, 2025, California joined a coalition of 16 states and Washington, D.C. in challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the Federal Highway Administration to withhold funds to build electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Trump’s executive order on “Unleashing American Energy” directs that all agencies “shall immediately pause …

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]]><![CDATA[House Passes Resolutions to Overturn California Emissions Waivers]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/house-passes-resolutions-to-overturnhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/house-passes-resolutions-to-overturnWed, 07 May 2025 19:50:38 GMTThe U.S. House of Representatives passed three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to overturn emissions waivers related to California’s zero emissions vehicles programs. The resolutions are now under consideration in the Senate, where passage faces procedural difficulties.

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If approved by the Senate, the resolutions would overturn the following wa…

]]><![CDATA[Congress to Review California’s Recent Emissions Waivers]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/congress-to-review-californias-recenthttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/congress-to-review-californias-recentWed, 19 Feb 2025 17:07:27 GMTThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the EPA would send three California vehicle emissions waiver rules to Congress for review under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The rules—Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Omnibus NOx rules—could be repealed.

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President Donald Trump signaled his int…

]]><![CDATA[Trump Aims to Eliminate the “EV Mandate” and State Emissions Waivers]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/trump-aims-to-eliminate-the-ev-mandatehttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/trump-aims-to-eliminate-the-ev-mandateFri, 24 Jan 2025 16:28:55 GMTPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order that takes aim at California’s promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) and its longstanding allowance to set its own emissions standards.

Trump’s executive order on “Unleashing American Energy” states that it is U.S. policy to “eliminate the ‘electric vehicle (EV) mandate’ and promote true consumer choice, wh…

]]><![CDATA[CARB Withdraws Waiver Requests to Phase-Out Diesel Trucks, Trains, and Harbor Craft]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/carb-withdraws-waiver-requests-forhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/carb-withdraws-waiver-requests-forWed, 15 Jan 2025 20:16:22 GMTOn January 13, 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) withdrew three waiver requests that would have phased-out diesel trucks, trains, and commercial harbor craft by 2036. The diesel truck and locomotive rules were considered the most legally controversial.

The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation would have required cargo trucks that serve po…

]]><![CDATA[Biden EPA Grants California Waivers for Yard Equipment, Refrigeration Units, Offroad Vehicles]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/biden-epa-grants-california-waivershttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/biden-epa-grants-california-waiversFri, 10 Jan 2025 17:02:08 GMTThe Biden administration granted California permissions to set zero-emissions standards for lawn mowers and leaf blowers as well low-emissions rules for refrigerated trucks and certain off-road vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was under pressure to approve eight waivers to the Clean Air Act before leaving office, as President-elect Don…

]]><![CDATA[EPA Approves Regulations for 2035 Phase-Out of Gas-Powered Vehicles]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/epa-approves-regulations-for-2035https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/epa-approves-regulations-for-2035Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:59:00 GMTThe Biden administration approved California’s Clean Air Act waiver request for two clean vehicle regulations.

The Advanced Clean Cars II rule will require the phase-out of the sale of new gasoline-fueled or diesel-fueled passenger cars and trucks by 2035. The Heavy-Duty Omnibus rule will establish more stringent emissions standards for heavy-duty engine…

]]><![CDATA[Supreme Court Declines Review of State Challenge to California Emissions Waiver]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/supreme-court-declines-review-ofhttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/supreme-court-declines-review-ofTue, 17 Dec 2024 20:35:00 GMTThe U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a legal challenge brought by Ohio and 16 other states seeking to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to restore California’s Clean Air Act waiver, which allows the state to impose vehicle emissions standards that exceed federal requirements. The order did not explain the Court’s re…

]]><![CDATA[Newsom Proposes State EV Credits if Trump Rescinds Federal Tax Credits]]>https://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/newsom-proposes-state-ev-creditshttps://www.californiaenergytransition.com/p/newsom-proposes-state-ev-creditsMon, 02 Dec 2024 20:56:35 GMTGovernor Gavin Newsom announced that California will provide rebates for zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) if the Trump Administration eliminates the federal tax credit. President-elect Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of eliminating the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle (EV) purchases, passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.

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