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California Ban on New Gas Cars May Catch On Around the World

Here's hoping

By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on August 29, 2022 11:20AM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart & Connected Life Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming California has banned the sale of gas cars after 2035. Starting in 2026, at least 20% of new cars must be battery- or hydrogen-powered.Where California leads, the rest of the world often follows. RÃmi Jacquaint / Unsplash California will ban the sale of all new gas-powered cars by 2035, setting the pace for the rest of the world. California has a history of radical green laws that become normal in the rest of the world soon after. For example, 14 US states have hopped on board its zero-emissions standards for cars instead of following less-stringent federal regulations. Now, California has set out its plan to ban gas cars, which should lead to similar changes over the globe. "California's leadership in sustainability is the product of a number of factors that combine in a fairly unique fashion," Ryan Rickards, COO of electric vehicle transition advocate EVE, told Lifewire via email. "The state's beautiful nature is part of its identity and economy and faces significant threats—in the form of droughts and wildfires—which are exacerbated by climate change. This has led to even stronger public engagement by Californians. Finally, unlike most other US states and nations around the world, many California-based businesses are aligned with the state's focus on environmentalism. After all, California is home to sustainability leaders like Patagonia, Apple, Google, and—until recently—Tesla."

Is This Really a Ban

Yup. From 2035, you'll no longer be able to buy a new car that runs solely on gasoline. You will still be able to buy and sell used models, but new cars will be off the menu, as it were. Even plug-in hybrid sales will be curtailed. They'll still be allowed, but only up to 20% of all car sales. Roman Stasiuk / Getty Images The ban won't be an instant change. It actually begins in 2026 and is pretty stringent even at the beginning. At that time, 35% of new car sales must be battery- or hydrogen-powered. The takeaway is pretty clear. If you're a car manufacturer, you'd better forget about petrol engines, because they're the past. If you keep pushing them, you will be selling them into a diminishing customer pool.

The End Is Nigh

For carmakers, this is a huge deal. This ban obviously only applies to California, but as the most populous state in the US and arguably its most car-happy, it represents an outsized part of the US market. And as already mentioned, what happens in California tends to end up happening elsewhere. In 1966, California established the first tailpipe emissions standards in the US. A few years later (1970), the government introduced the Clean Air Act. "California had over 31 million registered vehicles in 2019, a number that dwarfs Texas's 23 million cars and ranks 10 amongst nations, coming in behind Italy, which is in ninth place. Add to this the states that tend to follow California's lead on emissions standards, and California has outsize leverage when it comes to vehicle standards and sales," Andrew Sachs, president at Gateway Parking Services, told Lifewire via email. Tomwang112 / Getty Images

Dead Dinosaurs

But not everybody is on board. "While outlawing combustion engines might seem like a great idea on paper, it's a horrible idea in practice. Shipping companies are struggling with new laws that have banned older diesel semis in the state, which was a major contributing factor to many of the supply chain issues we've all been dealing with," Kyle MacDonald, director of operations Mojio, a company that provides GPS tracking for vehicle fleets, told Lifewire via email. On top of this, newer replacement trucks are in short supply like everything else these days. And postponing essential changes to support existing industry status quos is how we got into this mess. This kind of foot-dragging is normal, as entrenched interests have to be slowly chipped away before we can move to the future. The difference is that this time, there's no time. We cannot afford to keep pumping carbon into the atmosphere because it's the only one we've got, and it's already ruined. Hopefully, the absurdly extreme weather that is already normal will motivate us to chip away those old barnacles a little faster. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How AI Can Help Solve Climate Change 43 Most Common EV Questions Answered When Might All New Cars Be Electric? EV (BEV) vs PHEV vs FCEV vs Hybrid: What's the Difference? What’s the Shift to Electric Vehicles All About? Are Self-Driving Cars Legal in Your State? Apple Car: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors Is an Electric Vehicle Right for Me? Electric Vehicles: A Short History Lesson What Does an EV Battery’s Miles per KWh Number Mean? 8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Used EV How ‘Green’ are Electric Vehicles, Really? Can a Gasoline Vehicle Be Converted to an EV? 5 Tips for Buying a Car on eBay 5 Reasons People Don't Buy EVs Parking and HOV Lanes: The Secret Perks of EV Ownership Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies