Senate Votes to End California’s EV Mandate

The GOP-led Senate voted 51-44 to revoke California’s authority to set its own tailpipe emissions standards, a move that effectively dismantles the state’s mandate to ban new gasoline-powered car sales by 2035 as reported by the WSJ.

The decision made on May 22, 2025, is now awaiting President Trump’s signature, could slow the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) nationwide, impacting EV owners, manufacturers, and the broader clean energy transition.

California’s EV Mandate Under Fire

California has long been a leader in EV adoption, thanks to the 1970 Clean Air Act, which allowed the state to secure waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for stricter emissions rules. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) enacted a plan in 2022, which was later adopted by 11 other states, to phase out new gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035.

This mandate aimed to boost EV market share, which currently sits at 7% of U.S. car sales, down from 10% growth in April 2025, according to Motor Intelligence. However, the Senate’s vote nullifies this waiver, stripping California’s ability to enforce its EV targets.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) supported the decision, calling the waiver “an attempt by the Biden administration to impose an electric-vehicle mandate across this country.”

Thune warned of “a devastating impact on the U.S. economy if not overturned,” citing concerns from automakers like Toyota and General Motors, who lobbied heavily to end the waiver due to fears of reduced consumer demand and strained production.

Implications for EV Owners and Industry

The repeal poses immediate challenges for EV owners and enthusiasts. Without the state’s aggressive targets, experts predict to see a slowdown in charger infrastructure, limiting range for EV drivers.

“This is a huge setback, and not just for California, but for all the states that have adopted California clean-air standards,” said Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.). He warned, “It means we’ll fall further behind other countries in the adoption of new EV technologies.”

For manufacturers, the decision could ease pressure to pivot production lines to EVs, but it risks stunting innovation. Companies like Tesla, which dominate the U.S. EV market, may face reduced incentives to scale battery production or lower costs.

Regulatory and Economic Ripple Effects

The Senate leveraged the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the waiver, a move that required only a simple majority vote due to the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate edge.

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D., N.M.) criticized the tactic, warning that it “could open the door for Congress to ‘overturn nearly any agency decision nationwide,’ ranging from new oil and gas wells to LNG export terminals.” This precedent could hinder future EPA waivers, potentially freezing California’s ability to set progressive emissions standards.

California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, vowed to sue the Trump administration, calling the vote “an attack on the state’s decadeslong effort to fight pollution.”

Bonta emphasized the stakes: “Attacking these waivers will devastate our ability to advance the use of electric vehicles in the state.”

UC Berkeley’s environmental law professor Daniel Farber noted that CARB’s regulatory power might be reduced by laws preventing federal agencies from issuing rules “substantially the same” as those Congress disapproves, raising questions about future EPA waivers for California.

What’s Next for EV Adoption?

The decision could chill EV growth at a critical time. With EV sales already declining—down to 7% of the U.S. market in April 2025—losing California’s leadership might further dampen consumer confidence.

The focus now shifts to state-level advocacy and potential legal battles to restore California’s authority.

As Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom stated, “We won’t let it happen, not when we’re facing an air pollution and climate crisis that’s getting worse by the day.”

The adoption for EV is important and far from over, but this vote marks a significant hurdle.

Photos courtesy of Tesla and Rivian.