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Interactions between federal and state policies for reducing vehicle emissions

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  • Linn, Joshua
  • McConnell, Virginia

Abstract

Currently, the US federal government sets fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for passenger vehicles and promotes innovation for electric vehicles, including plug-in and fuel cell vehicles. Many states are considering their own transportation policies that would promote the adoption of electric vehicles. In principle, federal and state policies may interact in important ways, either positively or negatively. We examine federal subsidies for electric vehicles, and find that additional state policies that target only emissions of new vehicles and particularly electric vehicles are unlikely to decrease national greenhouse gas emissions in the short run, primarily due to interactions with federal regulations. We examine the conditions under which state and federal vehicle policies can have positive long-run social benefits, and suggest areas for future research to inform policy choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Linn, Joshua & McConnell, Virginia, 2019. "Interactions between federal and state policies for reducing vehicle emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 507-517.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:126:y:2019:i:c:p:507-517
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.10.052
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hayashida, Sherilyn & La Croix, Sumner & Coffman, Makena, 2021. "Understanding changes in electric vehicle policies in the U.S. states, 2010–2018," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 211-223.
    2. Hui Zhao & Jing Gao & Xian Cheng, 2023. "Electric Vehicle Solar Charging Station Siting Study Based on GIS and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making: A Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-23, July.
    3. Luo, Qi & Yin, Yunlei & Chen, Pengyu & Zhan, Zhenfei & Saigal, Romesh, 2022. "Dynamic subsidies for synergistic development of charging infrastructure and electric vehicle adoption," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 117-136.
    4. da Silva, Samuel Filgueira & Eckert, Jony Javorski & Corrêa, Fernanda Cristina & Silva, Fabrício Leonardo & Silva, Ludmila C.A. & Dedini, Franco Giuseppe, 2022. "Dual HESS electric vehicle powertrain design and fuzzy control based on multi-objective optimization to increase driving range and battery life cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    5. McConnell, Virginia & Leard, Benjamin & Kardos, Fred, 2019. "California’s Evolving Zero Emission Vehicle Program: Pulling New Technology into the Market," RFF Working Paper Series 19-22, Resources for the Future.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Q5; Q4; L62; New vehicle Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards; Innovation; Carbon tax; Feebate; Congestion charge; Electric vehicles; Registration tax; Policy interactions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • L62 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Automobiles; Other Transportation Equipment; Related Parts and Equipment

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