The state of California will ban the sale of new cars that use internal combustion engines, such as gasoline, by 2035.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 24th that California’s environmental regulator, the Air Resources Commission (CARC), is due to take effect soon.
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in 2020 to devise a plan to only sell cars with “zero” emissions powered by electricity or hydrogen.
When this plan goes into effect, the proportion of new electric and hydrogen vehicles in California, which is currently 12%, will increase to 100% from 2035.
The plan also includes an interim goal of increasing the proportion of new electric and hydrogen vehicles to 35% by 2026 and 68% by 2030.
However, the measure only applies to new car sales and does not prevent Californians from owning or selling used cars after 2035.
At least 12 states are likely to introduce regulations identical to California’s plan to ban the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines, the New York Times reported.
“If we take bold steps to eradicate carbon pollution, we can solve the climate crisis,” Governor Newsom said in his statement.
The auto industry is uneasy about California’s plans.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovations (AAI), which represents the interests of the auto industry, responded, “Achieving the plan will be a significant challenge.”
To sell eco-friendly cars, fuel charging facilities such as electricity and hydrogen must be installed, and prerequisites such as lithium and cobalt, which are necessary for battery production, must be sufficiently secured.
The AAI has called for federal support for the development and sale of eco-friendly vehicles.