Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has formally asked environmental regulators to maintain tailpipe emissions standards that were put in place to incentivize the automobile industry to sell electric vehicles in larger numbers.
The Austin-based company noted in a regulatory filing that vehicle manufacturers have made investment decisions informed by the stable understanding of the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases and adopt innovation-promoting emissions standards reflecting the capabilities of advancing technology. It was noted that the regulatory structure incentivizes innovative technology to address motor vehicle air pollution and contributed to and motivated Tesla’s investment decisions.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) highlighted that it continues to grow its large network of retail stores, vehicle service centers, collision centers, and electric vehicle charging stations to accelerate and support the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. In addition, Tesla (TSLA) emphasized that it operates the country’s largest and most reliable public EV charging network, coming soon for use by all EV brands that have adopted the NACS charging standard.
Going against the stance of the EPA, Tesla (TSLA) said its alternative science-based rationale for repealing the endangerment finding of the danger of emissions does not provide a sound basis. “As the recent assessment from the National Academy of Sciences makes clear, the proposal does not sufficiently evaluate the voluminous and rigorously established science, as well as the additionally developed scientific record since the 2009 endangerment finding that furthersolidifies the level of concern from climate change and the level of confidence that the establishedscientific community has over these findings.”
In addition, Tesla’s (TSAL) filing said that the EPA has not articulated a sufficient legal or factual basis for reversing its long-standing vehicle emissions standards.