The Senate vote defied the advice of the Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office, both of which stated that the waiver could not be revoked under the Congressional Review Act. California's zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires 35% of new sales to be ZEV by 2026, has been met with resistance from automakers who claim it is "impossible" to achieve. Despite this, California saw a rise in ZEV sales from 7.8% in 2020 to 25% in 2023, although growth was flat in 2024. The state's mandate primarily supports battery electric vehicles due to challenges with hydrogen fuel cells and filling networks.
Key takeaways:
- California is preparing to sue the federal government to recover its right to set vehicle emissions standards after Senate Republicans voted to overturn a waiver allowing stricter standards.
- The Congressional Review Act was used to repeal California's waivers, despite advice from the Senate parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office that it could not be revoked under the CRA.
- California's zero-emissions vehicle mandate aims for 35% of new sales to be zero-emissions by 2026, with a goal of 100% by 2035, primarily through battery electric vehicles.
- Rob Bonta, California's attorney general, criticized the use of the Congressional Review Act as a partisan attack and stated the state is prepared to defend its emissions standards.