Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined a lawsuit aimed at halting the Biden Administration's electric-vehicle mandate for truck manufacturers. The legal action was initiated by a coalition of 24 states, which filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today.
The suit is directed against the federal Environmental and Protection Agency’s rule that imposes strict tailpipe emissions standards on heavy-duty vehicles. This regulation effectively compels manufacturers to increase production of electric trucks while reducing output of internal-combustion trucks.
At present, electric trucks and their supporting infrastructure are virtually nonexistent. These vehicles also have shorter ranges and require longer stops compared to their combustion counterparts. Despite these limitations, the EPA’s rule would necessitate manufacturers to limit the availability of vehicles using preferred internal-combustion technology.
The States argue that the Biden Administration has overstepped its statutory authority in attempting to force a transition to electric trucks. They assert that beyond its legal flaws, the regulation defies reality. Electric trucks are deemed inefficient and costly, potentially increasing interstate transportation costs, raising prices for goods, and placing additional strain on the electric power grid.
In addition to Attorney General Miyares, attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah West Virginia and Wyoming have joined the lawsuit against the Biden Administration.