Recent Federal Actions
This list includes recent federal actions, such as Federal Register notices and rulemaking actions, agency directives or agency communications, that are all publicly available. These actions relate to alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction and fuel economy measures. When rulemakings are finalized, they will move to the list of Federal Laws and Incentives.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) published a Notice of Proposed Waiver of Buy America Requirements for EV Chargers in August 2022, which seeks comment on modifying Buy America requirements for electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The proposed change to the general applicability waiver would remove EV chargers and waive Buy America requirements under Federal Highway Administration regulations and the Build America, Buy America Act for the steel, iron, manufactured products, and construction materials in EV chargers. The Build America, Buy America Act was enacted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (Public Law 117-58), which was signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. Comments on the proposed waiver must be received by September 30, 2022.
Previously, in November 2021, DOT and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information on EV charger manufacturing and assembly processes to the United States. DOT and DOE were interested in the availability of EV chargers manufactured and assembled in the United States and whether they comply with applicable Buy America requirements. Comments on the RFI were due by January 10, 2022.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169), which amends the Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit (IRC 30D), now known as the Clean Vehicle Credit, and adds a new requirement for final assembly in North America that takes effect on August 16, 2022. Additional provisions will go into effect on January 1, 2023. Further guidance on these provisions is forthcoming. Find more information about the credit from the Internal Revenue Service.
See a list of vehicles with final assembly in North America based on data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and FuelEconomy.gov.
The build location of a particular vehicle should be confirmed by referring to its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) using NHTSA’s VIN decoder or an information label affixed to the vehicle.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published the Final Rule on Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards for Model Year (MY) 2024 – 2026 passenger cars and light-duty trucks in March 2022. The standards require an industry-wide average fleet fuel economy of approximately 49 miles per gallon in MY 2026, increasing fuel efficiency by 8% in MY 2024 and 2025 and 10% in MY 2026.
This action is the result of Executive Order 13990, issued January 2021, which directed NHTSA to review and reconsider fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks. For more information, refer to NHTSA's CAFE website.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Reconsideration of a Previous Withdrawal of a Waiver for California’s Advanced Clean Car Program Notice of Decision in March 2022, affirming California’s authority under the Clean Air Act to implement its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) sales mandate. States may continue to adopt and enforce California’s GHG standards. This action repeals The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule Part One: One National Program (SAFE-I), which was issued in September 2019 by EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
This action is the result of Executive Order 13990, issued in January 2021, which directed the EPA and NHTSA to review and reconsider the SAFE-I Rule. For more information, refer to EPA’s Regulations for Emissions from Vehicles and Engines website.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards Proposed Rule in March 2022, which proposes new nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for heavy-duty engines and vehicles for Model Year (MY) 2027 and later. EPA proposed two regulatory options for new NOx standards and requested comment on both. In addition, EPA proposed stricter GHG standards for the Heavy-Duty GHG Emissions Phase 2 program, which would affect certain subcategories of vocational and tractor vehicles, such as school buses, transit buses, commercial delivery trucks, and short-haul tractors. Stricter GHG standards would begin with MY 2027 vehicles.
This action is the result of Executive Order 14037, issued in August 2021, which directed EPA to consider setting new NOx emission standards and updating the existing GHG emissions standards for heavy-duty engines and vehicles. EPA must issue a final rule by December 2022. For more information, refer to EPA’s Regulations for Emissions from Vehicles and Engines website.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the “America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition,” identifying solutions to risks in the clean energy supply chain. For more information and to view the report, see DOE’s Securing America’s Clean Energy Supply Chain website.
This action is the result of Executive Order 14017, issued December 2021, which required DOE to conduct a risk assessment on clean energy manufacturing supply chains, including rare earth magnets and semiconductors used in electric vehicle batteries and hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers used in fuel cell electric vehicles.