California governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order that will ban the sale of all new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.
Wednesday’s order comes as the state continues to battle wildfires that have been blamed on global warming. It’s intended to encourage drivers in the state to shift to electric cars in order to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” Governor Newsom said 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,” he added. “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.”
Meeting zero emissions goals
Under Newsom’s executive order, new regulations will be developed that will require all sales of new passenger cars and trucks to be zero emission by 2035. That will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35 percent, the Democratic governor said.
Consumers who still own internal combustion vehicles will be allowed to own, operate, buy, and sell them in the state. The order will only apply to new vehicle sales.
“By the time the new rule goes into effect, zero-emission vehicles will almost certainly be cheaper and better than the traditional fossil fuel powered cars,” Newsom added. “The upfront cost of electric vehicles are projected to reach parity with conventional vehicles in just a matter of years, and the cost of owning the car – both in maintenance and how much it costs to power the car mile for mile – is far less than a fossil fuel burning vehicle.”