California is moving forward with a plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles. The new plan does not ban the sale of used gas-powered vehicles.
California is the largest auto market in the United States, and one of the largest in the world. Therefore, when California moves ahead with sweeping changes, the world takes notice. And when it comes to green initiatives, there are 12 other states that typically follow California’s lead.
So, conceivably, the restriction banning these car sales could be in place for around a third of the country very soon.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, originally announced the plan in 2020 through an executive order.
“You can still keep your internal combustion engine car,” Newsom said at the time. “You can still have a market for used cars. You can still trade and transfer those cars. We’re not taking anything away. We’re providing an abundance of new choices and new technologies.”
The California Air Resources Board is the government entity codifying the new rule, which takes a stepped-approach to hit its target.
Thirty-five percent of new passenger vehicles sold by 2026 need to be zero-emissions. The number revs up to 68% by 2030.
Newsom’s office is also including $10 billion for vehicle incentives, charging infrastructure and public outreach to help meet the goal.
Critics of California’s plan said it doesn’t take external factors into account, like how the price of new electric vehicles are significantly higher than standard vehicles or how the state will supply all of the electricity that’s going to be needed when it can’t meet current demands.
But California is far from alone in driving the transition to electric vehicles.
Large automakers like General Motors and Ford are investing billions of dollars in electric vehicles. Countries like Canada, Britain, France and Spain also all have goals to phase out new gas-powered cars by 2040.
