Vermont halts electric vehicle requirements as governor says ‘current goals’ not realistic
Vermont Governor Phil Scott paused the state’s electric vehicle sales requirements for passenger cars and medium and heavy-duty trucks on Tuesday, amid broader concerns about the feasibility of zero-emission vehicle rules pioneered by California.
Vermont is one of 11 states including New York, Maryland and Massachusetts that have adopted California’s zero-emission vehicle rules, which seek to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. California’s rules require 35% of light-duty vehicles in the 2026 model year to be zero-emission models.
Scott, a Republican, cited warnings from automakers that they could limit supply of gas-powered vehicles to dealers in the state because of the EV rules.
“It’s clear we don’t have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles to meet current goals,” said Scott.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore last month delayed enforcement of the rules until the 2028 model year, citing concerns about tariffs and charging infrastructure funding.
The House of Representatives voted in May to bar both California’s landmark 2035 EV plan and its plans to require a rising number of zero-emissions heavy-duty trucks, moving to repeal the legal approval for the rules granted by the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Joe Biden.
It was not clear when the Senate may take up the measures and California contends Congress cannot reverse Biden’s decision under fast-track rules.
Major automakers have said the rules, which require at least 80% EVs by 2035 and no more than 20% plug-in hybrids, are unfeasible and lobbied against them. California says they are essential to cut pollution and contends the vote is illegal.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai and other major automakers had warned car companies could be forced to substantially reduce the number of overall vehicles for sale to inflate their proportion of EV sales.
California says EVs must hit 68% of new vehicle sales by 2030 under the rules.
