State Vehicle Electrification Mandates

Seventeen countries have announced plans to phase out sales of new gasoline-powered passenger vehicles. In the US, in the absence of a federal policy, state-level vehicle electrification mandates are a promising mechanism to achieve quantum leaps in EV sales volumes, and a critical step on the path to nationwide vehicle electrification. Federal preemption concerns have hindered introduction of state-level vehicle electrification mandates. However, recent Supreme Court precedent has opened a path for state mandates to withstand preemption challenges, provided the legislation is based on state interests other than vehicle emissions reduction and improved fuel economy standards.