California Legislators Vote to Ban Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars After 2035
The state’s new auto sales regulation was written by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and introduced to the public via a news conference Wednesday. It will require that all new passenger vehicles reach a zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2035, effectively requiring California drivers to opt for electric cars (or buy a gas vehicle out of state). Legislators set two deadlines along the way: by 2026, 35 percent of new vehicles must produce zero emissions.
The is expected to cut California’s greenhouse gas output in half by 2040. Prior to that, it’ll reduce the presence of smog-forming nitrogen oxides by at least 25 percent.
(Photo: Chris Linnett/Unsplash)
“The climate crisis is solvable if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to stem the tide of carbon pollution,” Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday during the news conference. “California now has a groundbreaking, world-leading plan to achieve 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. It’s ambitious, it’s innovative, it’s the action we must take if we’re serious about leaving this planet better off for future generations.”
The final step in cementing the new regulation is to send it to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where it’s expected to be signed without issue. Though California is allowed the unique to regulate car sales in a way no other state can, other states, like New York, New Jersey, and Washington, are expected to follow California’s lead as closely as they can.
The restrictions will no doubt have some drivers upset over the loss of their favorite gas-powered models, but if capitalism truly drives innovation (pun not intended), automakers will find a way to bring those fan favorites back to life. In fact, they already are: Last week Dodge an all-electric Charger, which is expected to hit dealerships in 2024. Ford, meanwhile, is poised to put out a relatively affordable electric version of the F-150, called the ; on the other end of the budget spectrum, an of the traditionally gas-guzzling Land Rover will hit streets next year.
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