Republicans aim to block California's 'heavy-handed' EV mandates

 A group of House Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday that would restrict California's ability to ban traditional gas-powered cars as part of the state's electric vehicle push.

The four Republicans, led by Rep. John Joyce of Pennsylvania, said the bill — the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act — is designed to protect American consumers' freedom of choice and block stringent purchase requirements that would lead to higher costs. The legislation comes months after California, which leads the country in annual car sales, approved regulations mandating that all car purchases are "zero emissions" by 2035.

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"In places like my rural California district where many people commute several hours to work every day just to feed their families, electric vehicles are not only unaffordable, but also impractical — especially when residents are asked to unplug their vehicle chargers to accommodate the state’s failure to produce sufficient electricity," Obernolte said in a statement. 

"We need a market-based approach that will enable continued competition in the marketplace and push electric vehicles to be better and more affordable while enabling people to make their own choices about what type of car to drive," the California Republican added. "That is the economic system that our nation was built on, and our government should not be permitted to regulate away that freedom."

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