Several groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), joined the American Petroleum Institute (API) in filing a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years 2027-2032.

The groups said EPA exceeded its congressional authority with a regulation that relies too heavily on electrification and does not fully appreciate the role low carbon fuels like ethanol play in the transportation sector.

“Farmers rely on heavy-duty trucks to transport livestock long distances, and they choose the most efficient routes to ensure the animals in their care remain on the vehicle for as little time as possible,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Unfortunately, heavy-duty vehicles that are powered by batteries have short ranges and require hours to charge. Impractical regulations will extend the amount of time on the road, putting the health and safety of drivers and livestock at risk if they need to stop for long periods of time to charge.”

The groups, which also includes the National Corn Growers Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, further emphasized the impact the agency’s standards would have on America’s supply chain and on its small-business truckers.

Leaders with API highlighted the repercussions EPA’s standard will have on consumers.

“Today, we are standing up for consumers who rely on trucks to deliver the goods they use every single day,” API Senior Vice President and General Counsel Ryan Meyers said. “The EPA is forcing a switch to technology that simply does not presently exist for these kinds of vehicles—and even if it were someday possible, it will almost certainly have consequences for your average American. This is sadly yet another example of this administration pushing unpopular policy mandates that lack statutory authority, and we look forward to holding them accountable in court.”

In March, the Biden administration finalized new federal emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles (including commercial vehicles).

In the final rule, EPA projects there would need to be significant deployment of zero emission vehicles throughout the heavy-duty fleet to meet emissions standards. For example, over 40% of vocational vehicles (work trucks) would need to be zero emission vehicles by model year 2032. Long-haul tractors (semi-trucks), which currently have no ZEV deployment, would need to go from 0% today to 25% of the fleet by model year 2032.