"...a broader industry trend…
"...a broader industry trend aimed at improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions."
An industry trend? Really?
Why do I keep reading articles that dance around the real villain? The EPA.
Toyota ditched the V8 for a disastrous V6 in the Tundra. Dropped the 6 for a 4 or a hybrid in the RAV. How long will it take them to ditch one of most reliable 4 cylinders on the earth, the 2.5L AR and replace it with a 2.0L Turbo? Honda has already mothballed their 400k mile K24 2.4L in favor of a 2.0L Turbo.
The EPA is destroying the US auto industry and slowly creating new problems for itself. 1. They are forcing consumers to purchase tiny underpowered and unreliable ICE vehicles. Eventually, US cars will be disposable after 100 k miles. 2. They are forcing consumers to purchase li-ion hybrids. These batteries typically have a 1000 cycle lifespan... About 8 years. Since the batteries cost more than the Ionic 5, the car becomes disposable. The Tesla model fairs slightly better with a battery replacement cost that is about 40-50% of the cost of a new vehicle. Many people will simply purchase a new car. I can't help but wonder what the insurance validation is on a totalled 8-year old Model 3.
Currently, li-ion batteries are not cost-neutral to recycle. Who will get stuck paying the difference? What will happen in 5-6 years when the volume of dead batteries exceeds the production speed of the recycling facilities?
The EPA continues the regulate dispute the fact that there are no good solutions. They are destroying the auto industry, damaging the economy, and hurting the consumers. They are the king that taxes the peasants to death.