The state of California is officially banning all new gas-powered vehicles, which was announced last week.
The declaration covers all gas cars, meaning, that by 2035, dealerships will only offer all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, according to a report.
The goal of the new rules is to help the ever-increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in the passenger car and light-duty truck markets over the next years to make the state have 100% ZEVs by 2035, as per the News & Insights report of the RV Industry Association.
Vehicles weighing less than 8,500lbs. would be subject to the new rules. Meanwhile, medium-duty vehicles weighing between 8,501lbs. to 14,000lbs. and heavy-duty trucks over 14,001lbs. would not be subject to the same zero-emission rules until 2045.
Used cars, however, are not affected by the ban, giving consumers the chance to purchase used vehicles that runs on gasoline. The new rules have also placed some requirements for consumers intending to purchase a ZEV on the used market.
By 2030, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has required vehicles to maintain at least 80% of their all-electric range for ten years or 150,000 miles.
Supporting motorists to switch to ZEV
Calfornia Governor Newsom has proposed legislation to help consumers switch to ZEVs by providing extra funds, especially since battery-powered vehicles are more expensive than gas-powered cars.
Programs to support motorists switch vehicles include the Clean Cars 4 All, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, and the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program.
Type of cars not banned
As for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), some may believe they will be banned since it has a gas-powered engine, however, it will still be solved in California as long as they have an all-electric range of at least 50 miles in “real-world driving conditions.” PHEVs also cannot account for over 20% of an automaker’s overall ZEV requirement.
Similar rules apply to electric vehicles (EV) and fuel-cell vehicles, but they will need to have a minimum range of at least 150 miles.
Effects on other states
17 states plan to follow California’s lead regarding vehicle emission laws, but it does not necessarily mean they will all ban the sale of new internal-combustion vehicles after 2035.
The new rules have also been highly-criticized by people online and in other states like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin who called the policy “out-of-touch.” He also decried the state’s previous administration as having “sold out Virginia” by adhering to California emissions laws.
Mike Rencheck, president and CEO of Bruce Power, said in a LinkedIn post that the move will further strain California’s electric grid for supplying EVs.
“While moving to a clean energy future, transportation is a key sector, and a sound plan to assure electricity is available must be managed. California already has high electric prices and poor reliability experiencing rolling brown-outs when the temperature is hot,” he said.