California will ban the sale of new gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, marking a historic step in the state’s attempts to address climate change.
The new rules aim to force automakers to speed up the introduction of cleaner vehicles to the market.
It comes after Governor Gavin Newsom set a 2020 goal to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels.
The move is essential as California is the most populous state in the US and one of the largest economies in the world.
Under the rules issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), 35% of new vehicles sold in the state must be electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered by 2026.
The regulations would apply to 68% of vehicle sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
CARB Chair Laine Randolph said the move was “a historic moment for California, our partner states and the world as we set a path toward a zero-emissions future.”
The announcement is the latest move by California as it continues to move faster than the US federal government to tighten emission rules.
With more than 39m residents, California is the biggest US state by population. If it were a standalone country, it would be the fifth-largest economy in the world by gross domestic product, putting it ahead of the United Kingdom.
Joseph Mendelson, senior counsel at electric carmaker Tesla, said CARB’s plan was “both achievable and paves the way for California to lead in electrifying the light-duty sector”.
However, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation – representing carmakers including General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota – said more needed to be done to boost demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
“We’ve said to CARB and others that getting more EVs on the road must go hand-in-hand with other policies that together will ultimately determine the success of this transition,” the alliance’s president and chief executive John Bozzella said.
The new rules still have been approved by the US government before they can take effect.
However, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers trade association called on President Biden and the Environmental Protection Agency to “reject California’s request for a Clean Air Act waiver to proceed with this unlawful ban.”
