California plans to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars. In a statement by The California Air Resources Board, it was announced that the board aims to make it happen by 2035.
Starting in 2026, California will require 35 percent of new vehicles to be either partially or fully electric.
Plug-in hybrids will count the same as fully electric vehicles (EVs) if they provide 70 miles or more of the electric-only range and comply with the other EV regulations.
“This is monumental. This is the most important thing that CARB has done in the last 30 years. It’s important not just for California, but it’s important for the country and the world,” told California Air Resources Board member Daniel Sperling to CNN.
According to the New York Times, the new requirements could encourage the federal government and more than a dozen states to adopt similar rules.
Also, other countries such as Sweden, Canada, and Denmark had a similar spurt before.
Sperling said the rules received surprisingly little backlash and that auto companies were backing down on the issue. He stated that automobile companies are also working on the production of zero-emission vehicles internally.
Several companies, including Ford and GM, have announced ambitious plans to move toward zero-emission cars, trucks, and SUVs.
“The car companies see what’s happening in China, in Europe,” Sperling also said. “Many of them have already made announcements about how they’re converting totally to electric vehicles.
Background of the spurt
As per Forbes, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) 2020 issued an executive order to phase out gasoline-powered cars’ sales to help reduce the transportation sector’s greenhouse gas emissions. The order required the California Air Resources Board to develop regulations.
Many major auto companies have promised to produce low/or even zero-emission vehicles and increase sales. However, they have also called on the federal government to help make sure there is adequate demand and supplies, such as critical minerals required to make electric vehicles, to do so.
California’s expected ban comes a week after President Joe Biden signed a major climate and health care package, the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes $369 billion in spending on climate and energy programs and tax credits for new and used electric vehicle purchases.
The Biden administration hopes that greenhouse gas emissions will decrease to 40 percent by 2030.
What is the duty of CARB?
CARB is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. From requirements for clean cars and fuels to adopting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, California has pioneered a range of practical approaches that have set the standard for effective air and climate programs for the nation and the world.
CARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources by effectively reducing air pollutants while recognizing and considering its effects on the economy. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards.
Written by: Nergis Firtina
This article was originally published on Interesting Engineering