California To Ban Sale Of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles By 2035

In what may be one of the most stringent zero-emission regulations targeting vehicles, the state of California is expected to finalize a new law that would ban the sale of all new gasoline-powered cars in the state come 2035.

As reported by the New York Times, the California Air Resources Board’s unprecedented rule is expected to come into law later this week, and will make it mandatory for all cars sold in the state to be completely zero-emission come 2035. Interim targets will require that 35% of passenger vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2026, which will increase to a proportion of 68% come 2030. The latest move will likely have substantial effects on the US auto market, given that other states tend to follow California’s footsteps in setting environmental standards.

“This is huge,” said former head of the Environmental Protection Agency Margo Oge. “California will now be the only government in the world that mandates zero-emission vehicles. It is unique.” The decision comes amid the Biden administration’s new climate bill signed last week that will allocate $370 billion towards expanding the country’s clean energy initiatives, in an effort to reduce America’s emissions by 40% and bring them under 2005 levels. “The climate crisis is solvable if we focus on the big, bold steps necessary to stem the tide of carbon pollution,” commented Gavin Newsom.

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About 12 other states will potentially adopt a similar mandate in the near future, while another five states will sign such a law into effect within the next year or so. If the other states’ ambitious green energy policies come into fruition, then the restrictions on gasoline-powered vehicle sales would target approximately one-third of America’s auto market.

However, according to some industry experts, the law’s targets will likely run into substantial obstacles. “Whether or not these requirements are realistic or achievable is directly linked to external factors like inflation, charging and fuel infrastructure, supply chains, labor, critical mineral availability and pricing, and the ongoing semiconductor shortage,” said Alliance for Automotive Innovation president John Bozzella. He pointed out that automakers are proponents of bringing more electric vehicles onto US roads, but the government needs to reduce restrictions on critical mineral mining in the country, increase access to rapid charging, and make EVs more affordable for the average American household.

Information for this briefing was found via the NYT. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.