As lawmakers around the world weigh bans of cancer-linked ¡°forever chemicals,¡± many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute for the compounds.
Minnesota and Maine have passed legislation to effectively outlaw the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in nearly all products by the early 2030s. Dozens of other U.S. states are also considering curbing their use. And the European Union¡¯s Chemical Agency has proposed a widespread ban.
In response, Ford warned Maine state officials in May that ¡°there is no commercially available technology that exists in the world today¡± that can replace a PFAS-containing thermoplastic used for electric vehicle batteries. Earlier this month, the U.S. Defense Department said that banning PFAS, used in weapons systems, information technology and machinery, ¡°would greatly impact national security,¡± a view echoed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups.
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