The decision by California’s Air Resources Board, CARB, was hammered out Thursday and means a halt to the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles starting in 2035.
With 40 million inhabitants, California is the largest car market in the United States, one that automakers cannot ignore. The decision comes two years after Gov. Gavin Newsom directed authorities to consider such a policy.
Cuts emissions in half
If the new rule becomes a reality, California could cut emissions from cars in half by 2040. The state is also introducing milestones along the way, requiring that a good third of all cars sold from 2026 must have zero emissions.
Many other states, which normally follow California’s environmental decision, are expected to introduce similar rules.
For California, this is a substantial increase in ambition, as only around 16 percent of new car sales in the state in the first quarter of the year were electric.
Many automakers applaud the rule, and General Motors – which itself has a goal of selling only electric cars from 2035 – says the company and the state share a common vision. ‘
Some doubt
Others raise a warning finger that supply chain concerns and high material costs for electric cars could spell trouble. Critics also point to the lack of charging stations and ask where all the electricity to charge the cars will come from.
“Automakers may have significant difficulty meeting this goal given circumstances beyond the industry’s control,” says Kia’s Laurie Holmes.
The California Air Resources Board highlights that fewer gasoline and diesel vehicles on the road reduces smog, benefiting all Californians, but especially the economically disadvantaged communities along busy highways.
However, the decision must be approved at the federal level, by the environmental agency EPA, which it is considered likely to do under the Biden administration.