California is now on a path to completely banning new sales of gas-fueled vehicles by 2035 in order to address the climate crisis, with transportation being the largest single source of global warming emissions and air pollution in the state,
Advanced Clean Cars II establishes a year-by-year road map so that by 2035, 100 percent of new cars and light trucks sold in California will be all zero-emissions vehicles, including plug-in hybrids. So by the time a child born this year is ready to enter middle school, only Zero emissions vehicles, or a limited number of plug-in hybrids will be offered for new sale in California.
“The regulation includes ground-breaking strategies to bring ZEVs to more communities and is supported by the Governor’s ZEV budget which provides incentives to make ZEVs available to the widest number of economic groups in California, including low- and moderate-income consumers,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph.
According to regulators, the new rules include provisions that enhance equity in the transition to zero-emission vehicles and provide consumers certainty about the long-term emission benefits, quality, and durability of these clean cars and trucks and the batteries they run on.
According to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, the new rules will prevent 915 million oil barrels worth of emissions that won’t pollute our communities.
The new rules pressures automakers to deliver more zero-emission vehicles each year, beginning in 2026. Sales of new ZEVs and PHEVs will start at 35 percent that year, build to 68 percent in 2030, and reach 100 percent in 2035.
The regulation aims to deliver a 25 percent reduction in smog-causing pollution by 2035. Regulators estimate that from 2026 through 2040, the rules will result in cumulative avoided health impacts worth nearly $13 billion, including 1,290 fewer cardiopulmonary deaths, 460 fewer hospital admissions for cardiovascular or respiratory illness, and 650 fewer emergency room visits for asthma.
Newsom proposed, and the Legislature has approved $2.7 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, and $3.9 billion over three years, for investment in ZEV adoption, and clean mobility options for California’s most environmentally and economically burdened communities.
California’s ZEV budget includes $400 million over three years for the statewide expansion of Clean Cars 4 All, a program that provides up to $9,500 to low-income drivers who scrap their older vehicles and want to purchase something that runs cleaner; $525 million for the Clean Vehicles Rebate Project; and $300 million for more charging infrastructure, especially for those consumers who may not have a garage where they can charge their EV.
“California will continue to lead the revolution towards our zero-emission transportation future,”Newsom’s office wrote in a press release.
