California authorities want to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote Thursday on new regulations that will require 100% of new cars sold in the state by 2035 to be those that are considered zero emissions.
The rule will mandate that as early as 2026, 35% of new cars sold in the state must be zero-emission. In 2028 it will rise to 51% and in 2030, 68%.
The measure has the wholehearted support of the Democratic governor, the radical Gavin Newsom, who, speaking to The New York Times said:
The climate crisis is solvable if we focus on the big, bold steps needed to stem the tide of carbon pollution.
Newsom considers the ban on gasoline-powered cars to be one such "bold move."
The Obama Administration, with Biden in office, allowed California through a legal exemption to impose more radical standards than the federal ones when it came to to pollution and automobile limitations. This exemption was halted by the Trump Administration in 2019 but has now been reactivated. This exemption allows California to push for this new regulation that forces automakers to build and sell more electric vehicles.
However, there is legal opposition to these plans. Seventeen Republican-led states sued to overturn California's exemption, which would nullify the new policy in a pending court case.
Until then, if Newsom's plans go forward, 12 other Democratic states could adopt similar initiatives. As noted by the NYT, five other states are expected to follow California's lead later this year. Massachusetts, Washington and New York have already shown interest.
War on gasoline cars and shortage of alternatives
The regulation only applies to the sale of new cars. Initially, it does not prohibit the sale of used gasoline cars nor does it prohibit Californians from purchasing these vehicles out of state. It does mean, however, that it is a major limitation to gasoline powered vehicles. Although several countries, such as Canada, Great Britain, France and Spain have set targets to eliminate the sale of new gasoline vehicles between 2030 and 2040, none have regulations as stringent as those in the California proposal. It will be the only administration in the world to outlaw gasoline vehicles..
However, Newson and his ultras will have to overcome numerous obstacles to achieve their goals. California barely has 80,000 electric vehicle charging stations in public places, a far cry from the 250,000 it wants to have by 2025. The Automotive Innovation Alliance, which represents many of the major automakers, has warned of the lack of infrastructure and materials needed to manufacture the batteries, as well as problems in the supply chains, circumstances that could cause serious problems in the future throughout the Golden State.
Automakers are making massive investments in #EVs.
Whether or not CA's sales mandates are achievable is directly linked to factors like inflation, charging and fuel infrastructure, #supplychains, labor, critical minerals and the #semiconductor shortage.https://t.co/SiygGuODR0
- Alliance for Automotive Innovation (@autosinnovate) August 24, 2022
On the other hand, driving an expensive electric vehicle over long distances today requires careful planning about where to stop and charge. Planning that is not within the reach of the average worker, who also cannot afford such a car.
War on gasoline
The war against the gasoline powered car adds to the progressive attack against fuel. Several cities in California are banning the installation of new gas stations with the excuse of fighting climate change. Despite suffering from 8.5% inflation and in the midst of an energy crisis, progressives insist on dictating policies that will make fuel supply more expensive.
In the meantime, California is relegating crucial thermal power plants in favor of solar, wind and other energy sources considered cleaner but far less efficient. Top energy officials warned that the state could run out of power during the hottest days of the summer, something it already suffered in August 2020.
