State of Vermont pauses EV sales requirements

The Governor of Vermont in the US has issued an executive order for the pause of a plan that requires automakers to meet EV sales targets for personal and commercial automobiles. Governor Phil Scott cited vehicle affordability and a lack of infrastructure as some of the reasons for the order.

Governor Scott’s Executive Order 04-25 was issued yesterday, May 14 2025. It specifically instructs the Agency of Natural Resources to halt enforcement of the current rules, which mandate dealers to sell an increasing percentage of EVs starting with model year 2026 and the eventual ban of ICEs by 2035. Scott has stated that he believes charging infrastructure and ‘insufficient advances’ in heavy-duty EVs stand in the way of meeting the targets. The pause will last until the end of 2026.

In a statement, he said: “I continue to believe we should be incentivising Vermonters to transition to cleaner energy options like electric vehicles. However, we have to be realistic about a pace that’s achievable. It’s clear we don’t have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles to meet current goals.”

He added: “We have much more work to do, in order to make it more convenient, faster, and more affordable to buy, maintain and charge EVs. When we do, it’s more likely everyday Vermonters will make the switch.” The Vermont government also stated that “mandates are not going to be the total answer.”

The text of the executive order itself accepts that the current rules are intended to accelerate the transition to BEVs, reduce greenhouse emissions, and protect air quality. However, it states that “there is insufficient charging infrastructure for passenger cars” and that “tariffs and other federal disruptions are increasing costs and causing supply chain uncertainty.” It also claims that “some manufacturers are shifting the burden” of the rules to local dealers, “by requiring ZEV sales before allowing internal combustion engine car and truck sales […], which reduces the number and type of internal combustion engine cars and trucks available to Vermont dealerships and customers.”

With House Republicans now poised to eliminate the federal EV tax credit and advanced manufacturing loan programmes, it could be the case that states like Vermont and others are jumping before they’re pushed with measures such as these.

governor.vermont.gov