Vermont's state government abruptly halted enforcement of its electric vehicle mandate law, making it the latest state to back off such a law as consumers continue to prefer gas-powered cars.

Vermont governor Phil Scott (R.) issued an executive order Tuesday directing the state's Agency of Natural Resources to pause enforcement of the plan. Under the now-paused law, beginning later this year, automakers would have been forced to ensure EVs were a certain share of total car sales, a percentage that would incrementally increase every year until 2035, when a complete mandate would take effect.

According to the most recent industry data, EVs account for about 12 percent of new car purchases in Vermont. That is far short of the law's initial requirement forcing 35 percent of model year 2026 cars sold in the state to be electric.

"We have to be realistic about a pace that’s achievable," Scott said in a statement.