Dear NRDC Activist,

The open road. A healthy breeze through the window. Driving a cleaner, zero-emission vehicle. This image is within reach.

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. and is also a major source of other harmful pollutants that significantly impact public health, causing deadly diseases such as asthma, heart problems, and cancer.

President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new standards for cars and big trucks and buses. And the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be proposing new vehicle standards soon. Therefore, we have an important opportunity to encourage EPA and DOT to finalize strong standards that will reduce pollution and help ensure the transition toward zero-emission electric vehicles.

Take action and send a message to urge President Biden, EPA, and DOT to finalize the strongest possible vehicle standards.

Strong clean vehicle standards would do the following:

• Cars — A strong EPA standard for cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, and cargo vans should be finalized by the end of the year and must lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions by being at least as strong as the most stringent alternative in the agency's proposal.
• Big Trucks and Buses — A strong EPA standard for big, dirty diesel trucks and buses must be finalized by the end of the year, must put us on a trajectory to zero emissions by 2035, and must be significantly stronger than the most stringent alternative in the agency’s proposal.

Cleaner vehicles are a winner all around. They deliver savings on fuel, support good domestic job creation, clean up air in our communities, and protect our climate.

Tell our government agencies to finalize strong vehicle standards for cleaner air.

These proposed standards build on the support for clean vehicles in the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Biden last year, which has been followed by the announcement of more than $50 billion in electric vehicle related manufacturing investments in the U.S. With overwhelming support from consumers, Congress, and states like California that already have life-saving vehicle standards, the auto industry is steering toward a zero emissions future.

If strong standards are finalized, the Biden administration can ensure that the transition to clean, electric vehicles happens as promised, and that the U.S. can compete with Europe and China in the technology race.

For too long, auto makers have delayed progress, and we cannot afford unfulfilled promises now. We need to push the administration to finalize the strongest rules possible to ensure clean vehicles of the future get built and hit the road – so we all can benefit.

Urge Biden, EPA, and DOT to finalize the strongest possible clean vehicle standards NOW!

Sincerely,

Britt Carmon
Senior Advocate, Federal Clean Vehicles and Fuels, Climate and Clean Energy Program, NRDC