On September 23, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order banning sales of new gas-fueled passenger cars and trucks in California after 2035. The state said its target would achieve more than a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an 80% cut in nitrogen oxide emissions from cars statewide.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will advance a rulemaking to mandate that 100% of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks are zero-emission by 2035. Residents will be able to keep their existing gas-fueled cars and sell used ones.
Bans on sales of new internal combustion engines have been spreading across Europe over the past couple of years. California is the first state to develop regulations this broad; however, similar regulations have been adopted in Canada, Costa Rica, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, and other countries with varying target dates between 2035 and 2050.
In addition, CARB is already developing regulations to mandate that all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles be zero-emissions by 2045 “where feasible.” California is the first in the world to enact legislation requiring this of heavy-duty vehicles.
