The California Air Resources Board has called for 35% of new car sales in the state to be battery or hydrogen-powered by 2026 as the state seeks to achieve Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s goal of eliminating the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
“Pull away from the gas pumps,” Newsom said. “Let us no longer be victims of geopolitical dictators that manipulate global supply chains and global markets.”
Electric vehicle sales rose to 12.4% across California in 2021, an increase from 7.8% the prior year, according to CNBC.
“The proposal, if enacted by the California Air Resources Board, would require 35% of new passenger vehicle sales to be powered by batteries or hydrogen by 2026, and 100% of sales to be net-zero emissions less than a decade later. The proposal also calls for zero-emissions sales to account for 68% of total sales by 2030,” the report said.
The report comes as Newsom also announced on Tuesday a $10.5 billion state climate investment program to reduce emissions.
“California continues to lead the way in confronting the sources of emissions that are driving the climate crisis, while bolstering resilience in our most vulnerable communities,” Newsom said.
“These investments are reducing emissions across our state with projects that provide incentives for zero-emission vehicles and equipment, increase mobility through transit, build resilience to wildfires, and much more. We’re committed to ensuring that the communities most burdened by air pollution share in these benefits, with cleaner transportation options, cleaner air, increased energy efficiency, and more livable communities,” he added.
Over 50% of these project investments benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities through cleaner air, increased mobility options, expanded access to clean energy, new employment opportunities, and more.https://t.co/yMYcMEjivO
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) April 13, 2022
The recommended plan seeks to fulfill an executive order signed by Newsom in 2020 to end selling new gas-powered vehicles within 15 years.
“It shall be a goal of the State that 100 percent of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks will be zero-emission by 2035. It shall be a further goal of the State that 100 percent of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in the State be zero-emission by 2045 for all operations where feasible and by 2035 for drayage trucks,” Newsom’s order declared.
The Daily Wire previously reported:
“This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” said Newsom in a statement. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse – and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.”
The governor enacted the change via an executive order, which does not require approval from the Democrat-dominated California legislature. The executive order does not apply to future used vehicle sales.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Newsom sold the executive order in a press conference as a way to reduce asthma, curb rising sea levels, and preserve ice sheets, and suggested that other states follow his policy mandate.
California is also not the only state working toward the end of gas-powered vehicles. New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont are among at least 15 states pursuing similar goals based on California’s Low-Emission Vehicle criteria.