GM wants administration to enforce annual hike in electric vehicle production

Major car manufacturer General Motors is asking the Trump administration to back a national car program that would make automakers in all 50 states annually increase their output of electric vehicles.

The National Zero Emissions Vehicle Program endorsed by GM on Friday would gradually increase the percentage of electric vehicles manufacturers would have to make for their fleet each year starting at 7 percent in 2021 and rising to 25 percent by 2030.

{mosads}The suggestion from the Detroit-based company comes as the administration is considering a new vehicle emissions rule that would undermine a current standard in place championed by California.

The administration contends that the standard, determined under the Obama administration, is too stringent and would harm the car industry. It rolled out a replacement called the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient rule this summer.

GM submitted its idea to the Environmental Protection Agency during the open public comment period under the new rule. The window for commenting closes at midnight tonight.

The car manufacturer is calling its idea a compromise.

“We believe in a policy approach that better promotes U.S. innovation and starts a much-needed national discussion on electric vehicle development and deployment in this country,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president and president of the Global Product Group and Cadillac General Motors Company.

“A National Zero Emissions Program will drive the scale and infrastructure investments needed to allow the U.S. to lead the way to a zero emissions future.”

While the requirements under the program would be less stringent than what’s currently instituted in California, it would be implemented across all 50 states. GM estimated it could add more than 7 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and result in a drastic cut to carbon emissions — a major climate change contributor.

Automakers have been across the board in response to the Trump administration’s plans to replace the Obama rule, called the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard.

With California threatening to sue the Trump administration over the new rule, many fear there will be a long wait for a clear standard in the industry.

A common thread among most companies is the preference for a unified national plan, which would allow manufacturers to avoid making different cars for different states.