California’s ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars has set a precedent for other states to follow suit. The measure, approved by the California Air Resources Board in August 2022, mandates that all new cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks sold in the state must generate zero tailpipe emissions by 2035. This move is part of California’s commitment to combat climate change and reduce air pollution.
The Advanced Clean Cars II rule in California requires zero-emission vehicles to represent a growing percentage of new cars and light trucks sold in the state. By 2026, they should make up 35% of new vehicles, increasing to 68% by 2030, before reaching 100% in 2035. This ambitious target has inspired other states to follow suit. In fact, 11 states that link their emissions standards to California’s have announced plans to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles after 2035, with more likely to join in the future.
States such as Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington have already committed to enforcing the Advanced Clean Cars II rule and prohibiting the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles. Each state has taken steps to adopt California’s regulations through various processes.
For example, Delaware finalized regulations in April 2023 to adopt California’s regulations on the gas-powered vehicle ban. Maine received a petition urging the adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II standards and is currently undergoing a rulemaking process to implement the ban by 2028. Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore cited public health as a reason for adopting the regulations and expects to save millions of dollars annually in healthcare costs. Massachusetts has a trigger law that automatically adopts any emissions policy enacted by California. New Jersey signed executive orders to initiate the legislative process for stricter ICE vehicle regulations. New York ordered officials to draft regulations requiring all new cars to be zero emissions by 2035. Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission voted to phase out the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Pennsylvania lawmakers agreed to adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, and Rhode Island’s governor emphasized the need to address smog and environmental justice. Vermont approved changes to clean-car requirements, and Washington automatically adopted California’s emissions regulations.
While these states are leading the way in banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles, other states have taken different approaches. Colorado, for example, has rejected the idea of a ban and instead focuses on making electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable and practical. Connecticut faced internal conflicts among lawmakers and temporarily abandoned plans for a gas-powered vehicle ban. In Virginia, Republican lawmakers are fighting to decouple the state from California’s emissions rules, but their last bill was defeated. Minnesota’s Clean Car Rule links it to California’s standards but doesn’t automatically trigger a ban on ICE vehicles.
It’s important to note that bans on the sale of gas-powered cars do not include used vehicles or those purchased out-of-state. The regulations also do not force anyone to stop driving their current automobile. The average lifespan of a car is about 12 years or 200,000 miles, so there will still be a strong market for gas-powered vehicles in the affected states for the foreseeable future.
While these bans on gas-powered vehicles are a significant step towards reducing emissions, there are challenges that need to be addressed. The affordability of electric vehicles remains an issue, as they are currently more expensive than combustion vehicles. However, as technology improves and economies of scale come into play, the prices of EVs are expected to decrease. Additionally, there is a need to expand charging infrastructure to support the growing number of EVs on the road.
The federal government under President Joe Biden has set a goal of having half of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. To achieve this, the government has allocated funds for charging stations and revised the EV tax credit. However, there is no nationwide ban on new ICE vehicles. Instead, new standards for gas-powered vehicles aim to make them more environmentally friendly, working towards a carbon-neutral goal.
Several automakers have also committed to phasing out the production of gas-powered vehicles. General Motors plans to sell only zero-emission cars by 2035 and be carbon-neutral in both vehicles and manufacturing operations by 2040. Other carmakers such as Jaguar, Volvo, Rolls-Royce, Honda, Ford, Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen have also pledged to go all-electric within specific timelines.
While the ban on gas-powered vehicles is a significant step towards reducing emissions, there are still challenges to overcome. The affordability of EVs and the expansion of charging infrastructure need to be addressed. However, as technology advances and public support grows, the transition to an all-electric future becomes increasingly feasible.
