Topline
The California Air Resources Board approved a highly anticipated measure Thursday that will ban the sale of new gasoline-only cars in the nation’s most populous state by 2035, marking what’s widely considered the most stringent regulation ever enacted on gas cars as part of a nationwide shift toward electric vehicles.
Traffic leaves San Francisco on June 30, 2006. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images)
Key Facts
The ban will apply to most new vehicles, including sedans, SUVs and light trucks, but will not impact the sale of any used vehicles.
The mandate requires at least 35% of new vehicles sold in the state by 2026 to be “zero-emission”—a threshold that gradually increases by 6-8% per year until hitting 100% in 2035.
The regulatory panel passed the measure unanimously, and championed the move as a historic step in the fight against climate change.
Plug-in gas/electric hybrids that have a battery range of at least 50 miles will still be allowed to account for up to 20% of sales, while all-electric or hydrogen cars must make up the remaining amount.
What To Watch For
More than a dozen states that typically follow California’s lead in vehicle regulation could be poised to adopt similar mandates, according to the New York Times. New York, Pennsylvania and Washington are among the states that often adopt California’s regulations.
Key Background
Less than 1% of cars on U.S. roadways today are electric, according to Reuters, but sales have grown significantly over the last decade and are expected to skyrocket in the coming years. Major carmakers are investing billions of dollars into electric vehicle production, and 2035 is also the goal General Motors has set to shift its production to only electric vehicles. Readying the country’s infrastructure for an industry-wide shift to electric vehicles has been a critical component of spending bills President Joe Biden signed into law over the past year. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill enacted last year authorizes $7.5 billion for creating a national network of electric vehicle chargers, while the more recent Inflation Reduction Act includes expanded tax credits for buying electric vehicles.
Further Reading
California Expected To Ban New Gas-Only Car Sales By 2035 (Forbes)
Everything In The $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill: New Roads, Electric School Buses And More (Forbes)
Inflation Reduction Act Passes: Senate Approves $430 Billion Climate And Healthcare Bill (Forbes)
