Americans still not sold on EVs despite Biden push, poll shows

In the poll released by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, 19% of respondents said they were either "very" or "extremely" likely to buy an EV for their next car purchase3.

President Biden's administration has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of vehicle emissions by announcing the finalization of strict national pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032. These standards aim to avoid more than 7 billion tons of carbon emissions and provide nearly $100 billion of annual net benefits to society, including $13 billion of annual public health benefits due to improved air quality, and $62 billion in reduced annual fuel costs, and maintenance and repair costs for drivers1.

The final standards will expand consumer choice in clean vehicles and build on historic progress in U.S. auto manufacturing under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. EPA projects an increase in U.S. auto manufacturing employment in response to these final standards, consistent with the broader Biden-Harris Administration commitment to create good-paying, union jobs leading the clean vehicle future.

The new requirements by 2032 include a nearly 50% reduction in projected fleet average greenhouse gas emissions levels for light-duty vehicles and 44% reductions for medium-duty vehicles compared to the existing standards for model year 2026 vehicles. In addition, the standards are expected to reduce emissions of health-harming fine particulate matter from gasoline-powered vehicles by over 95%. This will improve air quality nationwide and especially for people who live near major roadways and have environmental justice concerns.

These standards will provide greater certainty for the auto industry, catalyzing private investment, creating good-paying union jobs, and invigorating and strengthening the U.S. auto industry. Over the next decade, the standards, paired with President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda and investments in U.S. manufacturing, will set the U.S. auto sector on a trajectory for sustained growth.