California to Ban Gas Cars From 2035
CARB’s Advanced Clean Cars II Bill to Ban California New Combustion Car Sales
California lawmakers have rubber stamped a new bill to permanently ban all new fossil-fuel vehicle sales by 2035.
The controversial CARB Advanced Clean Cars II bill simultaneously strives to incrementally decrease fossil-fuel vehicle sales by 35 percent, by 2026. It will ramp up to a projected 68% by 2030. The ban applies to all new light-duty passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. It excludes medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Used gas car sales are not affected.
Gas Ban Aims to Accelerate All Zero Emissions Tech
The objective of the ban is not to benefit electric vehicle sales, but rather promote sales of all zero emissions vehicles. Electric cars comply with the new law, but the bill strives to promote other zero emissions car technologies. Those include hydrogen fuel cell (cars like the Toyota Mirai, above) and hydrogen combustion technology.
CARB’s ban marks a fundamental shift in the world’s largest automotive marketplace. California is famous for leading international emissions standards trends. The ban is expected to spur other governments to legislate similar combustion vehicle bans. Up to a dozen US states are expected to follow California’s lead, five of them as soon as next year.
“California now has a groundbreaking, world-leading plan to achieve 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035,” state governor, Gavin Newsom confirmed. “It’s ambitious, it’s innovative, it’s the action we must take to leave the planet better off for future generations. “This is one of those big, bold steps necessary to stem the tide of carbon pollution.”
Ban Accelerates Green Car Transition
“This is a really exciting announcement,” Natural Resources Defense Council clean fuels advocate Kathy Harris backed Newson up. “CARB’s Advanced Clean Cars II bill will help to accelerate the transition and give a signal that customers and states are ready for this transition to occur rapidly.”
“Combatting climate change is a strategic priority at Ford,” Blue Oval Chief Sustainability Officer Bob Holycross points out. “We’re proud of our partnership with California and we are committed to building a zero-emissions future for everyone. “This is a landmark standard that will define clean transportation and set an example for the United States.”
The bill is likely to have far-reaching effects, even in the short term. Auto companies will need to accelerate their shift towards zero-emission vehicles in compliance with these new restrictions in one of the biggest car markets on earth. The law will also force car companies to meet or improve on their existing EV production timelines.
Will Carmakers Keep Up with EV Demand?
That however has its own implications. Supply chain issues are already delaying orders on popular EVs. So, requiring a state with a population of almost 40 million people to buy zero-emissions cars will only serve to increase lead times and affect prices. Especially for popular new hybrid and electric vehicles like the highly in demand Ford F-150 Lightning EV.
The new policy is also expected to significantly affect the used gas car market and the classic car scene. Excluded from the proposed policy, demand for scarce pre-owned gas cars is likely jump. Many models will become worth significantly more than what they were new as used values skyrocket in California and other ban states.
Also, new gas vehicles are likely to remain on sale in other US states, including those not so concerned with killing off cars that consume their own natural resources. So, it is likely that Californian, and other ban counties’ gas car fans will simply move their automotive acquisitions out of state. Either way, California’s controversial CARB Advanced Clean Cars II bill is set to change motoring as we know it forever.
Images: Toyota, Ford, Tesla