GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — This week the Biden administration finalized new pollution standards for vehicles that are being described as the strongest ever.
The amount of electric vehicles sold across America is growing.
"Last year, we ended the year at about 8% of vehicles in the U.S. sold that were 100% battery electric," said Mike Wall, executive director of automotive analyst for IHS Markit.
Consumers Energy said that growth has spread here to Michigan as well.
"We saw about a 20% growth in electric vehicles in the territories we serve," said Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler.
But it still isn't what the total the Environmental Protection Agency wants to see between 2027 and 2032.
"About 44% is what they're now targeting," said Wall.
That standard, the EPA said, will cut back on 7 billion tons of carbon emissions.
But how are we going to reach that benchmark? Wall said companies are making more EVs than ever before, but that isn't the challenging part.
"There certainly will be the product out there and the capacity to be able to do that," he said. "We have to address the demand, the demand side of that equation is going to be critical."
With many still wary of going fully electric because of proper infrastructure, Consumers is working to make that a reality.
"We at Consumers Energy are trying to really build the backbone for that to happen," said Wheeler.
Wall said the biggest barrier to reaching the EPA's new standard, however, is properly informing people searching for a new vehicle.
"The education process and really getting consumers minds to think maybe a little differently about about battery electric versus internal combustion," said Wall. "It's not going to be easy."
Education that Consumers actively shares with its customers.
"Our role of Consumers Energy is to provide information and that support if people are considering the decision or they're making the purchase," said Wheeler.
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